Shubman Gill’s unbeaten half-century for Kolkata Knight Riders in last week’s IPL win over Chennai Super Kings has left coach Jacques Kallis thoroughly impressed.
The Indian under-19 World Cup-winning star had scored an unbeaten 57 off just 36 balls to lead the Knight Riders to a six-wicket win over MS Dhoni’s men.
Writing in his column for the Times of India on Wednesday, Kallis lauded Gill and stated that the 18-year-old has a very bright future.
Kallis’ men were 40-2 in their chase of 178 against Chennai when the youngster walked in to bat and flipped the game on its head.
“We also lost a couple of early wickets but, once again, we stayed calm and played clinical cricket. It gave an opportunity to Shubman Gill to bat higher up the order and he took it in some style. We were very clear in our management of his first experience in the IPL – we wanted to ease him in gradually rather than throw him into the deep end with great expectations,” the South African legend, widely regarded as one of the game’s greatest-ever all-rounders, said.
Gill formed a terrific partnership with Karthik in the win. Image – KKR
“So by the time he walked out to bat at No.4 against Chennai in a match we really needed to win, he was not a rookie and knew exactly what to do. There is no shot or option he does not have as a batsman but his decision-making and ability to think clearly under pressure is equally impressive. He has a very bright future with a mature head on his shoulders,” he added.
Gill was named the player of the World Cup tournament held in New Zealand earlier this year, off the back of a match-winning century against Pakistan in the semi-finals, and has since been earmarked for big things by many greats like Rahul Dravid.
Such high praise from someone of Kallis’s stature will do him the world of good after a not so prolific maiden IPL stint. So far, Gill has scored 127 runs in seven innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders.