Mohammad Kaif also lauded Shubman Gill for his performance in the first ODI.
Many in the cricket fraternity expressed their discontent over Shubman Gill getting a chance in India playing XI ahead of Ishan Kishan in the opening ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka on January 10, especially due to the left-hander's recent 210 in an ODI against Bangladesh.
However, Gill repaid the faith by playing a brilliant knock of 70 runs off 60 deliveries and adding 143 runs with Rohit Sharma for the opening wicket to help Team India post 373/5 in 50 overs and then win the match by 67 runs.
Amidst the debate, former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif supported the Indian cricket team management’s decision by saying they played a better player, Gill, in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Guwahati.
As reported by India Today, Mohammad Kaif said on Star Sports: “It was the right decision. They are playing the better player. It is not that a left-hander is being sent at the top of the order so that you get a left-right combination. Shikhar Dhawan was playing because he was a good player and had a good record and not because he was a left-hander.”
Kaif further said that Gill deserved to be praised for his performance in Guwahati while playing under pressure, as he was given chance ahead of Kishan, who recently scored a double century in ODIs.
The former batter added, “They played Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Gill will have to be praised because he knows the atmosphere in which he is playing. He knows Shikhar has been dropped and Ishan Kishan is sitting outside after scoring a double century but he showed faith in his game.”
Kaif signed off by saying on Gill’s knock in the first ODI, “It was a typical Gill knock. He punches the ball very well. It is not that he is going to take time, it is not that he needs 15-20 balls. If you bowl a bad ball, he hits a boundary. He showed that by doing it today.”