'It is Shubman..,' Pietersen Picks Potential Standout Star For T20 World Cup 2024
Shubman Gill had a stellar 2023 [x.com]
Former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen has thrown his support behind India's young batting sensation, Shubman Gill, tipping him to be the standout performer at this year's T20 World Cup.
The high-profile tournament is set to take place in the West Indies and USA in June, marking a critical opportunity for India to clinch an ICC title after a decade-long drought. Despite high hopes, India's recent performances in the T20 World Cups have fallen short, with an early exit in the 2021 edition and a semifinal defeat by England in 2022.
Reflecting on his own win in the T20 World Cup 2010 hosted in the West Indies, where England emerged victorious against Australia and Kevin Pietersen was awarded Player of the Tournament, he reminisced about the exceptional experience of winning amidst the vibrant Barbados crowd.
Here's what Kevin Pietersen said:
“Winning the World Cup in the Caribbean against Australia in the middle of the Barbados crowd was very special.”
The English veteran highlighted the importance of peak performance during the critical moments of the tournament, suggesting that the upcoming Indian Premier League season in April and May would be a litmus test for identifying key players capable of shining in the World Cup.
"It's all about people who will perform at the right time. And that's going to happen in April and May during the IPL. We'll see who's performing the best. The players are good enough to replicate in the World Cup. The conditions are pretty similar to what is here in India actually. There will be very low bounce wickets. It takes some spin, but they are also beautiful wickets," added the erstwhile cricketer.
When pressed to single out one player likely to dominate the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, Pietersen did not hesitate to name Shubman Gill, who might struggle to find a place in India's T20 World Cup squad, as the one to watch.
"It is Shubman Gill. He is the guy,” concluded Pietersen.
Despite Gill’s woeful form currently, it is worth mentioning that he was the top-scorer in IPL 2023, amassing 890 runs across 17 matches for Gujarat Titans, including three centuries and four half-centuries at an impressive average of 59.83. With Hardik Pandya’s departure, he is all set to lead the Titans in the upcoming IPL 2024.
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