Brian Lara expects Shubman Gill to break his world record scores of 400* and 501*

Lara hailed Gill as the most talented batter of the current generation.

By Salman Anjum - 06 Dec, 2023

India’s young batter Shubman Gill has taken the cricketing world by storm with his stunning exploits in 2023.

The classy right-hander is the highest run-getter for India across formats this year. In 29 international innings, he has amassed 1584 runs at an average of 63.36 with five tons and nine fifties.

Impressed with his talent, West Indies legend Brian Lara has tipped Shubman to break his world record scores of 400* and 501*.

Lara is the only batter in the history of Test cricket to score 400 runs in an innings. He achieved that feat against England in 2004. The Caribbean maestro also holds the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket. He had slammed an unbeaten 501 in a County Championship match for Warwickshire against Durham way back in 1994.

"Shubman Gill can break both my records," Lara told Anandabazar Patrika, before hailing Gill as the most talented batter of the current generation.

"Gill is the most talented batter in this new generation. He will rule cricket in the coming years. I believe he will go on to break many big records," he added.

While Gill boasts a fantastic record in white-ball cricket, he is yet to stamp his authority in the longest format of the game.

In 18 Tests so far, the 24-year-old has scored 966 runs at an average of 32.20 with two centuries to his name.

"He (Gill) can do it (break my records)," Lara said again.

Shubman Gill averages 61.37 in ODIs with six hundred but failed to hit a century in the recently held Cricket World Cup. However, Lara believes Gill will win many ICC tournaments for India in the coming years.

"Gill didn't score a century (in the World Cup) but look a the knocks he has already played. He has centuries in all formats, has smashed a double hundred in ODIs and has also played many match-winnings in the IPL. I'm sure he will many ICC tournaments in the future," Lara said.

"The way he bats is superb. I have immense belief in him. Have you seen how he charges down the track to hit the seamers down the ground? Unbelievable," he further remarked.

Gill might have loads of talent but isn’t scoring 400* and 501* a tad too much?

"If Gill plays County cricket then he can break my 501*. In Test cricket, he can surely go past 400. Cricket has changed a lot, especially batting. Batters play t20 leagues across the globe. IPL has changed everything. The scoring rate has gone up. So you will keep seeing big scores. Shubman will score big, mark my words," Lara opined.

By Salman Anjum - 06 Dec, 2023

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