Unfair on Virat Kohli, Tendulkar to Draw Comparison with Shubman Gill: Gary Kirsten
Gill won the Orange Cap in IPL 2023 | Source - AP Photo
Former head coach of the Indian cricket team and current mentor for the Gujarat Titans (GT), Gary Kirsten humbly expressed his belief that it would be an injustice to draw direct comparisons between the budding talent of Shubman Gill and the unparalleled batting prowess of legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.
Nevertheless, Kirsten wholeheartedly acknowledged Gill's unmistakable potential to carve his path as a triumphant player across all formats of the game.
In a season that unfolded with sheer brilliance, representing GT, Gill emerged as the victor of the highly coveted Orange Cap, amassing a staggering total of 890 runs throughout 17 matches, accompanied by an awe-inspiring average of 59.33 and an extraordinary strike rate of 157.80.
"He (Shubman Gill) is a young player who has incredible skill and determination to be one of the best players in the world. It would be unfair to compare him to Sachin and Virat so early in his journey. I believe he has the game to successfully play across all three formats for India. You don't often see that, these days, particularly as T20 cricket is developing and progressing so fast," Gary Kirsten said while speaking to Cricbuzz.
As a testament to his exceptional contributions, Gill was bestowed with the esteemed title of the Most Valuable Player following the gripping final. Gill's extraordinary run tally was surpassed only by the unprecedented record set by Virat Kohli, who tallied 973 runs during the captivating 2016 season of the IPL.
As the young batter continues to evolve and refine his skills, Kirsten urged patience and a holistic perspective on his development. Rather than making premature comparisons, Kirsten encouraged cricket enthusiasts to appreciate Gill's unique journey and celebrate his potential to make a significant impact on the sport.
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")
