'Eight Sixes...,' That's The Difference Between Virat Kohli And Shubman Gill

image-lhzbzwvrVirat Kohli congratulates Shubman Gill after his century (IPLT20.COM)

Shubman Gill powered the Gujarat Titans to orchestrate a dramatic match-winning run-chase against the RCB in Bengaluru. Chasing a daunting 198, the Titans opener smoked an unbeaten 104 and formed a match-defining 127-run partnership with Vijay Shankar.

Gill’s innings marked his second century in succession, as he swooped in to claim the ‘Player of the Match’ by outclassing Virat Kohli’s 101* earlier in the contest.

With the match featuring two classy hundreds, former IPL winning coach Tom Moody has explained why Gill’s ton was much more impactful than Kohli’s in the context of the game.

Moody thinks sixes won it for Shubman Gill

In the RCB innings upfront, Virat Kohli took some time to settle before unleashing his seventh IPL ton. The opening batter smoked 101* from 61 deliveries with 13 boundaries and a six to his name.

On the other hand, Shubman Gill batted amidst a monumental run-chase pressure and still found time to smear 104* from just 52 balls. His scintillating knock was glittered with five boundaries and eight huge sixes, including the match-winning hit off Wayne Parnell in the final over of the match.

Acknowledging the boundary count between the two, former SRH coach and ex-Australian cricketer Tom Moody noted that Gill’s six-hitting exhibition won it for the Titans.

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo after the game, Moody said that Gill’s eight sixes in the innings helped him maintain a strike-rate of 200, as opposed to his senior counterpart from the RCB camp, who landed only one six during his knock.

“Eight sixes! To me, that was the difference in the two hundreds. Both were brilliant hundreds. But Kohli only hit one six while Shubman Gill hit eight sixes. He ended up with a strike-rate of 200. That's a significant difference. In a chasing situation, against a good bowling attack....hats off to him,”

Moody also praised the young Indian batter for his sublime run with the bat in the last 12 months, be it for India in international colours or for the Titans in IPL matches. The Australian said:

“Shubman Gill is such a special player, he really is. We have seen in all three formats in the last 12 months. Whether it's the IPL or in Indian colours. He is such a delight to watch. He is just so composed at the crease.”

Shubman Gill will now turn up for the Titans in the upcoming first qualifier against the CSK on May 23. The match will be played out at Chennai’s M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.