IPL 2023: Shubman Gill is following footsteps of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli – Kapil Dev

Former Indian World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev reckons Shubman Gill is following in the footsteps of great players like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli. Gill has been in dream form in 2023 and he is batting like a dream in the 16th season of the IPL.

The GT opener smashed a blistering knock of 129 runs off just 60 balls with the help of seven fours and 10 sixes. Ergo, he played an instrumental role in helping the reigning champions post a massive total of 233 runs on the board in the all-important second qualifier against Mumbai Indians while playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Friday.

Gill played an unbelievable knock as he timed the ball to perfection and took the MI bowlers to the cleaners. The 23-year-old youngster was just unstoppable and MI bowlers had no answers to his relentless onslaught.

Gill has played a key role in taking GT to the final as he is the leading run-getter of IPL 2023 with 851 runs in 16 matches at a splendid average of 60.79 and a blistering strike rate of 156.43.

“Sunil Gavaskar came, Sachin Tendulkar came, then Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, and now with the kind of batting he is showing, it appears that Shubman Gill is following their footsteps. But I will like to give him another season (before making big claims). He definitely has the talent and ability but he needs more maturity,” Kapil said on ABP News.

The former all-rounder added if Gill can replicate the same performance in the next season of the IPL, he could be included in the list of great players.

“If he plays another season like this, there is no doubt that he too could be included in the list of great players. But I would not like to take him to that league currently. Maybe he needs to give one more year. It’s too early (to say).”

Gill has been in terrific form and he will look to carry the same for India in the WTC final against Australia.