Shubman Gill and Shivam Mavi will have illustrious career: Jacques Kallis

The Indian Premier League is a platform where the youngsters get to play alongside some of the greatest players in the world. The advice that they receive during the IPL from top coaching staffs in priceless. It ensures that the youngsters get their basics sorted out right from the start and can focus more on polishing their other skills.

The Indian U19 players won the World Cup quite comprehensively in New Zealand and few of them were fortunate enough to earn IPL contracts. Players like Shubhman Gill, Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Prithvi Shaw can now add the IPL contract to their respective CV’s. Jacques Kallis, one of the greatest allrounders in the history of cricket has revealed that he would be “surprised” if youngsters Shubman Gill and Shivam Mavi don’t succeed on the international stage in the years to come. Both Gill and Mavi are associated with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Exciting talent

Kallis praised the qualities possessed by the youngsters while he also added that they are still improvising. Mavi and Gill made their debuts against the Sunrisers Hyderabad but failed to get the opportunity to showcase their talent in the match. Shubhman Gill was the highest run-getter in the U19 World Cup with four successive 50-plus scores and Shivam Mavi took nine wickets with a superb economy rate of 4.12, clocking continuously over 140 kmph.

“As a coach of KKR, I have seen them from close quarters. Shubman Gill and Shivam Mavi have bags of talent and I would be very surprised if they don’t both have lengthy and illustrious professional careers. Obviously, Gill has been a top-order batsman in every team he has played in but if his opportunity, for the moment, lies at six or seven then I’m sure he has the talent and temperament to be successful there. Mavi has plenty of paces which is very exciting and, although his opportunity was limited to the Sunrisers I see plenty more overs from him in the future.” Jacques Kallis wrote in his column for Times of India.

The Knight Riders had a different approach towards this edition of the IPL as they invested heavily in young promising talents. The team has suffered two defeats already in this campaign and need to up their game to move up in the points table. “We have fallen off the early pace with the defeat to Hyderabad and need to get back to winning ways soon.

There is rarely much to be pleased with after a disappointing performance like that one but I was really impressed with the effort and determination to defend a sub-par total. We have put ourselves under pressure at the back end of the tournament before and I’d rather not be in that situation again – so winning needs to start again soon, beginning against Delhi [Daredevils] on Monday.” Kallis added.

Stay updated on ‘today’s cricket news‘ with CricTracker.com