'Shubman Gill Aiming to Emulate Virat Kohli, According to Former Pakistan Captain Before IND vs PAK Champions Trophy Showdown'

New Delhi: Prior to India's first match in the Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh, captain Rohit Sharma lauded his vice-captain, Shubman Gill, for his exceptional ODI statistics, describing them as "incredible" . Rohit emphasized that Gill's impressive numbers played a significant role in his elevation to the position of vice-captain in the 50-over format. Rohit's assessment was on point. Despite encountering difficulties in Test cricket and being overshadowed by other openers in T20Is, Gill has excelled in ODIs, drawing comparisons to Virat Kohli and, in some cases, even surpassing him, particularly considering the remarkable start he has had in one-day cricket.

In his first Champions Trophy appearance, Shubman Gill played an impressive knock of 101* off 129 deliveries, leading India to a comfortable victory over Bangladesh in a Group A encounter in Dubai. His contribution guided India to successfully chase down a target of 229 in 46.3 overs, with six wickets remaining.

Shubman Gill reached 8 ODI centuries in just 51 innings, setting a record for the quickest among all Indian batters. He achieved this in six fewer innings than Shikhar Dhawan, 17 fewer than Virat Kohli, and 47 fewer than Sachin Tendulkar.

Clearly, Gill’s immense potential has truly flourished in ODIs. Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez is well-placed to carry forward the legacy of Virat Kohli.

‘Shubman Gill trying to take Virat Kohli’s legacy forward’
“For the past three years, since Shubman Gill came to this Indian side, he has been trying to be the next Virat Kohli. He is trying to take that legacy forward,” Mohammad Hafeez said on “Game On Hai.”

“It was his eighth ODI hundred but it was one of his slowest centuries,” said Hafeez. But the thing that made me very happy was that he batted according to the situation. On this pitch the requirement was to absorb the pressure, to control the game,” he added.

Gill reached his century off 125 deliveries, marking his slowest ODI ton, but it was the most “satisfying one” as he ensured he remained at the crease until the end, on a surface that grew progressively tougher for aggressive batting.

Hafeez mentioned that at 25, Gill displays a maturity beyond his years, understanding precisely when to be aggressive and when to withstand the pressure.

“He played against his nature (attacking cricket) and instead of that he produced the match-winning performance. To me, it is heartening to see that someone who is just 25 is controlling the game very well. He knows when to attack and when he needs to absorb the pressure. He is one of the players who likes to perform at the big stage. He took the responsibility and finished the game. He has controlled the game beautifully,” said Hafeez.