SHUBMAN GILL - THE NEXT BIG THING IN CRICKET

In three Tests, he accumulated an impressive tally of 259 runs at a commendable average of 51.80 with two fifties. His 91 at the Gabba set the foundation for Rishabh Pant...

- RENIN WILBEN

Adversity and opportunity are two sides of the same coin. Multiple injury issues saw rookie Indians being forced into action Down Under in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. And, how brilliantly they answered the ‘SOS’ call. In Shubman Gill’s case, Prithvi Shaw’s horror run with the bat, Rohit Sharma’s unavailability (for first two Tests) and Mayank Agarwal’s loss of form saw him being pitchforked into the opening slot. And, like the other newcomers, Gill also did not let Team India down.

In three Tests, he accumulated an impressive tally of 259 runs at a commendable average of 51.80 with two fifties. His 91 at the Gabba set the foundation for Rishabh Pant to blaze his way to an unbeaten 89, and create history, as India chased down the highest-ever total at Brisbane - 328. A standout aspect of Gill’s innings in his debut Test series was the fact that he finished with only one single-figure score across six innings, a massive achievement for a rookie opener in Australia. Even though he was not always getting the big knocks, Gill did enough to frustrate the Aussie bowlers, and give India the early advantage.