India vs Australia, 4th Test: Shubman Gill showcased his maturity and composure as he did not let the Australian spinners take upper-hand during his classy Test century on Day 3 in Ahmedabad.
By India Today Sports Desk: Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar opined that it’s unfair to say that Shubman Gill exceeded expectations with his classy hundred in the 4th Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, adding that the U19 World Cup-winning star from Punjab was always looked at as a future star, capable of doing what he has been doing in international cricket.
Sanjay Manjrekar, however, said it’s not easy to fulfill expectations, especially in a country like India and highlighted that Gill has done well so far in his nascent international career.
Gill was earmarked as one of the future stars when he lit up the U19 World Cup in 2018, scoring 372 runs, including a hundred and 3 fifties, in 6 matches. After having had a steady start to his international career, especially his Test career, Gill has taken his form and consistency to another level over the last few months.
Gill made his Test debut in 2020 and managed 478 runs in his second calendar year in whites at an average of 29. However, the 23-year-old has been in sensational form since his return to the Test side in the tour of Bangladesh in 2022 wherein he got his maiden Test hundred.
Ever since, Gill has hit 5 international hundreds, including an ODI double hundred, in 2023. The Gujarat Titans batter got his maiden Test hundred at home on Day 3 of the 4th Test in Ahmedabad, becoming the 2nd youngest Indian opener since KL Rahul in 2015 to go past a 3-figure score in Test cricket against Australia.
GILL AND ART OF FULFILLING EXPECTATIONS
“Not exceeded expectations. This is what was expected of him. But it’s very difficult in India to fulfill expectations because they are generally on the higher side,” Manjrekar said.
“KL Rahul also had a terrific record, especially when it comes to hundreds overseas. Shubman Gill also had a great to his Test career, getting the 90 in Brisbane. Then he had the hundred in Bangladesh. But, in this match, there was some pressure because he had a quiet game. Runs were needed but the way he got those runs, looked commanding, looked comfortable.
“He started off with a strike rate of over 60, then it went down a bit. Once he knew he had the bowlers on the mat, he did not let go.
“When he got out, he looked really disappointed. All the great signs… we want to see is for him to have a long, long Test career,” he added.
