KKR will open their IPL 2020 campaign against MI in Abu Dhabi on September 23.
In a video series for cricket.com.au, Ponting previously went about revealing similarly impactful names from Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) – the franchise he has been associated with as a head coach for the past three seasons.
In the latest edition of the series, Ponting picked the 21-year-old Shubman Gill as KKR’s most dangerous man.
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“Kolkata Knight Riders’ danger man for this season is someone that’s probably not that well-known to Australian fans and probably not to the cricket fans around the world, except if you are an Indian. But this young man (Shubman Gill) is a very very good player,” Ponting said.
“We saw him bat at the top of the order on a few occasions last season for Kolkata Knight Riders. I think he might get an opportunity to open the batting this year and if he does then you will see just one of the best young batting talents in world cricket,” he added.
“I think he will eventually be a really really good Test player for India but what I saw last year from him aged about 20-year-old or 21-year-old is that he is a very very exciting prospect. He scores upfront and backfoot, which you don’t see a lot from the world of young Indian players. Particularly strong on the short ball, he is probably a bit over 6 feet tall so he is a strong kid with impeccable technique. He times the ball beautifully so I am expecting big things from Shubman Gill this year,” he continued.
Shubman Gill has impressed one and all in last year’s IPL. Batting in the lower middle-order before the KKR team management decided to send him as an opener, Gill amassed 296 runs from 13 innings with the highest score of 76.
The stylish right-hander opened the innings in just 5 matches and registered the scores of 65, 14, 76, 65* and 9. He drew rich praises from the overseas commentators throughout the campaign and ended up winning the "Emerging-Player-of-the-Year" award.
Knight Riders will open their IPL 2020 campaign against the defending champions Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi on September 23.