Veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh applauded young Shubman Gill and said that he would be extremely happy if the right-handed opener ends up playing more Test matches than him.
Debuting for India in the second Test-match at MCG, where India registered a stunning 8-wicket victory after suffering a batting debacle at Adelaide, Shubman Gill impressed everyone with his stroke-play and scored 45 & 35* and followed it up an elegant fifty at SCG.
However, Shubman Gill came into the limelight once again as the 21-year-old played another stylish inning and scored 91 runs in the series decider at Gabba, and stitched 114 run-partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara to take visitors score from 18/1 to 132/2, as the visitors were chasing a mammoth target of 328.
Harbhajan Singh, who has played 103 Tests for India, heaped praise on young opener from Punjab, Shubman Gill, and said he would be extremely happy and proud if the right-hander ends up playing more Test matches than him.
“My only advice to my younger brother Shubman Gill will be to stay focus and look forward all the time. You’re the first opener after (Navjot Singh) Siddhu to play for India (from Punjab). I hope you end up playing more Test matches than Navjot Singh Siddhu and I’d more than happy and proud if you end up playing more Test matches than me,” Harbhajan Singh told India Today.
Harbhajan didn't commit on the talks about Shubman Gill's captaincy prospects but said he wants the youngster to play as much as possible.
“I don’t know whether he’ll be captain of India or not but I want him to play as many years as he can. He’s got the game, he’s got the mindset. It will come down to hard work and keeping the focus and giving importance to the game which he has been giving over the years,” he said.
Harbhajan Singh, who’s the highest wicket-taker for Indian in the longest format among active players, said Gill needs to keep his mind on the right track as there will be a lot of other engagements that will come his way after his success in Australia.
“It will be even more difficult now as he will have a lot of other commitments since he’s a name now, he’s a known boy, a lot of endorsements and other things will come his way but he needs to stay focused,” he concluded.
Shubman Gill finished the series with 259 runs at an impressive average of 51.8. The young opener is all set to play his first Test match at home after been named in the 18-man squad for the first two Tests against England, starting February 5 in Chennai.
(India Today Inputs)
