Generous Brian Lara sings Shubman Gill's praises

Shubman Gill has so far played only 73 international games for India across three formats but has already managed to take the cricket fraternity by storm with his exemplary talent.

Gill is rated highly by a number of former cricketers and legendary West Indies batter Brian Lara is the latest to predict a bright future for the youngster. The former West Indies captain hailed Gill as the most talented batter among the current crop of players in world cricket. Lara also backed Gill to break his records for highest individual scores in first-class (501 not out) as well as Test cricket (400 not out).

"Shubman Gill can break both my records. Gill is the most talented batter in this new generation. He will rule cricket in the coming years. I believe he will go on to break many big records. He (Gill) can do it (break my records). If Gill plays County cricket then he can break my 501*. In Test cricket, he can surely go past 400,” Lara said while speaking to Anandabazar Patrika.

In the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023, Gill scored 354 runs in nine games at an average of 44.25 and a strike rate of 106.94. He scored four fifties but couldn't get his maiden World Cup century. India lost the final to Australia after winning ten games in a row. Lara praised Gill for his remarkable achievements in his near five-year-old international career and said that he will win many ICC tournaments in the near future.

“Shubman will score big, mark my words. Gill didn't score a century (in the World Cup) but look at the knocks he has already played. He has centuries in all formats, has smashed a double hundred in ODIs and has also played many match-winnings in the IPL. I'm sure he will win many ICC tournaments in the future,” Lara added.

Gill has scored 2271 runs in 44 ODIs at an average of 61.38 and a strike rate of 103.46. In 11 T20Is, he has amassed 304 runs at an average of 30.40 and a strike rate of 146.86. The Punjab batter has also played 18 Tests, scoring 966 runs, at 32.20. Gill has been rested for the ODI leg of India's upcoming tour to South Africa but will be in action in the T20Is and Tests.