Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa recently heaped praise on the dynamic opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, following their performance in the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on July 30. Uthappa, now a cricket analyst, drew parallels between the young duo and the legendary opening partnership of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar.
Ganguly and Tendulkar are revered as one of the most successful opening pairs in cricket history, particularly in ODIs. Their partnership amassed 6,609 runs in 136 innings at an impressive average of 50, featuring 21 century stands and 23 half-century partnerships.
Uthappa remarked that the batting synergy between Gill and Jaiswal reminded him of the legendary pair. “I do see them, when I look at them they remind me of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar going out together, where their games kind of complemented each other. Their strategies complemented each other, that’s what I see when I see these two go out to bat together,” Uthappa commented on Sony Sports Network.
Gill and Jaiswal have shown great promise in their early outings as an opening pair, scoring 516 runs in nine innings at an average of 65. This includes two centuries and two half-centuries, highlighting their potential to become a formidable partnership at the top of the order.
Uthappa, 38, emphasized the seamless coordination and complementary playing styles of Gill and Jaiswal, similar to the legendary duo of Ganguly and Tendulkar. He believes that Jaiswal, who has already made remarkable debuts in Test and T20I formats, will quickly establish himself in ODI cricket as well.
“When Jaiswal gets the chance to make his ODI debut, he will seal the opening spot very quickly after his stunning Test and T20I debuts. He will be able to score in all three formats amazingly,” Uthappa predicted.
He highlighted Jaiswal’s red-ball cricket achievements, where the 22-year-old has scored 1,028 runs at an average of 69, with three centuries and four fifties. In T20Is, Jaiswal has amassed 713 runs from 21 innings, featuring one century and five half-centuries.
Uthappa added, “I honestly feel when he [Jaiswal] gets that opportunity in ODI cricket, he will seal that spot so quickly because after Test cricket and T20I cricket, ODI cricket is going to be so much easier for him. Because he will feel like I have all the time in the world to be able to score runs.”
The former wicketkeeper-batter’s endorsement comes at a time when Indian cricket is witnessing a transition, with young talents stepping up to fill the shoes of their predecessors. The performances of Gill and Jaiswal offer hope and excitement for Indian cricket fans, as they look forward to seeing this promising partnership develop further.
