By India Today Sports Desk: Gujarat Titans mentor Gary Kirsten, who has previously worked as the national team’s head coach alongside India batting legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, remarked that it would be “unfair” to place Gill on the same pedestal as the other two but added the opener undoubtedly has the potential to become a successful all-format player.
Gill won the Orange Cap for his outstanding season with the bat, accumulating 890 runs in 17 matches at an average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80. Gill finally finished with the second-highest total by a batter in an IPL season, after only Virat Kohli’s 973 in the 2016 season, and was named Most Valuable Player after the final.
The Titans may have lost to the Chennai Super Kings in the title match, but Gill’s ascension in T20s has been one of the big talking points in the 2023 edition, and the side’s mentor Gary Kirsten had high praise for the opener.
“He 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,” Kirsten said while speaking to Cricbuzz.
Kirsten also applauded Gill’s ability to grow and enhance his game this year, rather than resting on his laurels. He highlighted several parts of the youngster’s game that have changed since last year.
“First, his confidence and self- belief in knowing what he is capable of. Second is his work ethic and professionalism around how he prepares for the games. And finally, his game sense and how he puts a performance together with his skill sets. This season, he showed a fantastic understanding of his strengths and how to use them at the right time in every match,” Kirsten added.
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