Shubman Gill vs Virat Kohli : Suresh Raina, the former India batter, echoed the sentiments of many cricket experts when he emphasized Shubman Gill’s aspiration to follow in the footsteps of Virat Kohli. Gill’s remarkable consistency, aggressive approach, and capacity to construct substantial innings bear a striking resemblance to the qualities that have made Kohli an iconic figure in international cricket. Over the past 18 months, Gill has displayed exceptional form across all formats, and he continued his impressive run with the bat in the two ODIs against Australia. Following a fluent 74 off just 63 balls in the first ODI, Gill notched up his sixth ODI century in the Indore ODI, as India secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Shubman Gill at 24:
At the tender age of 24, Shubman Gill has accumulated an impressive seven centuries across all formats – 18 in Tests and 29 in ODIs, amassing 966 and 1514 runs, respectively, including six hundreds. He has also managed to score 304 runs in 11 T20 Internationals, with a single century to his name.
Breaking down his centuries further, Gill scored one of his two Test centuries in India – a remarkable 128 against Australia in Ahmedabad, and the other during his debut Test in Bangladesh. His three ODI centuries all came on home soil, with two against New Zealand and one against Sri Lanka. In August 2022, he added another ODI century to his tally in Harare, Zimbabwe. His solitary T20I century was achieved at home as well, when he smashed an unbeaten 126 off 63 balls against New Zealand.
Virat Kohli at 24:
In contrast, Virat Kohli had already registered a remarkable fifteen centuries across various formats by the time he turned 24. In just 10 Test matches, Kohli amassed 703 runs, including two centuries. Additionally, at the same age, Kohli had already played 90 ODIs, accumulating an impressive 3886 runs, with 13 centuries to his name. Despite featuring in 16 T20 Internationals, Kohli had not managed to score a century in this format by the age of 24, but he did contribute significantly with 463 runs.
Analyzing Kohli’s record at home and away when he was 24, one of his two Test centuries came against New Zealand in India – a memorable 103 in Bengaluru in August 2012. Before that, in January 2012, he had notched up his maiden Test century against Australia in Adelaide.
In ODIs, Kohli had scored five centuries at home, five at away venues, and three of his ODI centuries were achieved at neutral venues, including an unbeaten 133 against Sri Lanka in Hobart in February 2012 and 183 against Pakistan in Mirpur in March 2012.
Kohli vs. Gill:
Clearly, when it comes to the number of centuries, Kohli’s record surpasses that of the young Gill when they were both 24. Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that Gill possesses immense potential and has displayed remarkable consistency since his debut. He represents an exciting prospect for the future of Indian cricket, known for his distinctive style of play.
It’s important to note that comparing players from different eras can be a subjective and contentious exercise, given the variations in match conditions, quality of opposition, and cricketing standards. Nonetheless, such comparisons highlight the abundance of talent within Team India, offering an optimistic outlook for the future of Indian cricket.
Comparing Gill to Virat Kohli is not unwarranted, as Gill possesses the skills, determination, and aura to potentially become India’s next cricketing superstar. His ability to excel in all formats and maintain consistency under pressure positions Gill as one of India’s key players in the upcoming World Cup. Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are poised to witness his ascent to greatness, and post-tournament discussions about Gill’s achievements and potential are likely to elevate his status as a future legend of the sport.
