'He has the temperament to become a great player' - Sunil Gavaskar praises Shubman Gill

Imagine being just eight Tests into your international career as a Test opener and getting a compliment from the greatest ever Indian Test opener. That is exactly how Shubman Gill must be feeling after getting a compliment from Sunil Gavaskar during the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand. 

On arguably the biggest stage of world cricket, Gill impressed with the bat during the first hour of the final in Southampton on Saturday. Playing his first international game in England, Gill was right into the action as New Zealand chose to bowl first after winning the toss. He compiled a 62-run opening partnership with Rohit Sharma. 

With the overcast condition overhead and a new Dukes ball being bowled by the quality and experienced New Zealand pacers, this was going to be Gill’s toughest challenge in the whites yet. However, the 21-year-old gave India the much-needed start which is demanded by the openers in English conditions. 

He just needs to get his first hundred and then a lot more will follow: Gavaskar 

Sunil Gavaskar, who was in the commentary box while Gill was batting, ended up complimenting the youngster. “He has the temperament to become a great player,” Sunny G, as he is more fondly known as, said. Eight matches into his career, Gill is still searching for his maiden ton. The former batting legend weighed in the argument that getting the first hundred is always difficult. 

“The first hundred is always the toughest one because that journey from scoring a half-century to reaching three figures is not that easy. Batsmen tend to feel settled somewhere around the 70-80 run mark and start taking the bowlers on and lose their wicket in that way. He just needs to get his first hundred and then a lot more will follow,” Gavaskar said. 

Gill eventually fell for 28 runs from 64 balls, when Neil Wagner got him out caught in the slips as he went on for a drive. Despite failing to convert that start into a big score, it is safe to say that he passed his first Test as an opener in England. At the time of writing this, India was at 84 for 2 in 39 overs, having successfully negated the threat of the brand new Duke’s ball.