Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer has backed Shubman Gill as all-format player and feels it is unfortunate that the right-hander is not part of India’s T20I team. Gill scored an impressive knock of 110 runs off 108 balls with the help of 13 fours and one six in the opening ODI against the West Indies on Sunday.
This was Gill’s 10th ODI century, and he added 151 runs off 132 balls with Virat Kohli for the second wicket to put India in a winning position. Thus, the duo played a key role in India’s convincing win against the visitors, chasing down 296 with 50 balls to spare.
Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube Channel, “He is an all-format player. It’s unfortunate that our T20 team is so strong that Shubman hasn’t been able to make a place for himself. In any other country, Shubman would walk into the T20I team.”
Jaffer backed Gill to carry forward Virat Kohli’s legacy in the ODI format. Kohli also scored an impressive knock of 139 runs off just 88 balls in the series opener.
Jaffer added, “He is a wonderful batter in this format. I feel that Shubman Gill will carry Virat Kohli’s legacy. He is a very good captain and is showing such maturity at a young age. These are very good signs for Indian cricket.”
On the other hand, the former Indian batter praised Kuldeep Yadav for his match-changing spell of 4-40. Yadav hasn’t received regular chances in the playing XI but he was able to prove his mettle.
He concluded, “First of all, it was nice to see him play and that he got a chance in the XI. This is the difference Kuldeep Yadav makes. West Indies got such a good start, and after that, if you have a quality wrist-spinner, he can change the game. Very happy to see Kuldeep Yadav play and perform. I think somewhere a lot of pressure must have been off him. He gets matches between breaks. He showed what he can do.”
The second ODI between India and the West Indies will be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Wednesday.
