Former Indian captain and selector Kris Srikkanth highlighted that Shubman Gill has not yet delivered consistent performances in different conditions, especially overseas, to meet the high expectations set for him in international cricket.
The young Indian batter has impressed one and all with his batting talent across the format, though most of his Test runs came in the subcontinent, and Srikkanth feels he hasn’t yet proved his mettle globally.
Notably, Gill failed to impress with the bat in the first Test against South Africa. He scored 2 and 26 runs in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion against the Proteas.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel: “Shubman Gill has to perform well across the world. Scoring runs in the sub-continent alone does not help. He has to score runs overseas. Why are we calling Virat Kohli, the King? Look at his record, even in the last year, be it Test matches, ODI or T20Is.”
He continued, “Just look at his (Kohli) records. I have nothing more to say. Yes, I accept you cannot produce a Virat Kohli every time. Everybody cannot be producing Virat Kohli (Kohli-like numbers). But you have to try and get to at least a bit of that stature.”
Speaking on the buzz about Gill, Srikkanth warned against both overrating and underestimating the young right-hander. He will be seen in action in the second and final Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
He signed off by saying, “I think the hype around Shubman Gill, quite a few are saying 'he is the next this, next that.' I think we will have to wait and see. I would not overrate him, I would not want to underestimate him.”
(With ANI Inputs)
