Former World Cup-winning player Kris Srikkanth has urged Shubman Gill to perform more consistently while playing in overseas conditions. Gill had a sensational run in 2023 in ODIs, scoring 1584 runs in 29 matches at an average of 63.36 to end the year as the highest run-scorer in the format.
However, Gill was not able to take his ODI form to the red-ball version, managing only 258 runs in six matches at an average of 28.66. In the opening Test match against South Africa, Gill returned with scores of 2 and 26 and thus could not get the job done for the team.
The youngster got off to a start in the second innings but could not convert it into a substantial score. India suffered an ignominious loss of an innings and 32 runs against the Proteas. Srikkanth said it is not easy to produce Kohli-like numbers but Gill needs to perform while batting at one down.
“Shubman Gill has to perform well across the world. Scoring runs in the sub-continent alone doesn’t 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. Just look at his records. I have nothing more to say. Yes, I accept you can’t produce a Virat Kohli every time. Everybody can’t producing Virat Kohli (Kohli-like numbers). But you have to try and get to at least a bit of that stature,” Srikkanth said in a YouTube show.
Srikkanth added that KL Rahul has been underperforming despite the wicket-keeper bat scoring a fine century in the first innings.
“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 wouldn’t overrate him, I wouldn’t want to underestimate him.
“KL Rahul is someone who has been underperforming. With the class that he has, he can become at least 60 to 70 percent of what Virat Kohli has become. That’s my rating. Rishabh Pant is another clas player. He is on another level. Unfortunately, we don’t have him for selection now,” Srikkanth added.
The second Test match between South Africa and India will be played at the Newlands, Cape Town from January 3.
