Former legendary West Indies skipper Brian Lara came up with all praise for the young Indian opener Shubman Gill. Notably, Gill is set to be in action for Team India in the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa in South Africa. Recently, he played for India in the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023.
Coming back to Lara, he praised the batting abilities of Shubman Gill and also backed him to break his world records of the highest scores in Test cricket and First-Class cricket. Interestingly, just like Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 international centuries and Muttiah Muralitharan’s 800 Test scalps, Brian Lara also owns the world record for the highest Test score (400*) and highest First-Class score (501*).
"He is the most talented batter in this new generation." - Brian Lara
Lara lauded Gill and backed him to be one of the greatest batters who ever played the game and also predicted that he is the one who can break the world records.
“Shubman Gill can break both my records, He is the most talented batter in this new generation. He will rule cricket in the coming years. I believe he will go on to break many big records,” said Brian Lara to Anandbazar Patrika.
“Gill didn't score a century (in the World Cup) but look at the knocks he has already played. He has centuries in all formats, has smashed a double hundred in ODIs, and has also played many match-winnings in the IPL. I'm sure he will many ICC tournaments in the future,” he added later.
Furthermore, the former Caribbean great also spoke about Gill’s possibilities to be a great batter if the latter plays in English County Cricket.
“If Gill plays County cricket then he can break my 501*. In Test cricket, he can surely go past 400. Cricket has changed a lot, especially batting. Batters play t20 leagues across the globe. IPL has changed everything. The scoring rate has gone up. So you will keep seeing big scores. Shubman will score big, mark my words,” Lara said.
Here’s how fans reacted to Brian Lara’s statement for Shubman Gill:
Ye kuch zyada hi ho gaya hai
— seven sky awan (@m_m_a_y_7) December 6, 2023
Brian Lara zyada uthane lag parra hai
FUTURE STAR OF INDIA
— мυѕѕαωαя вυтт (@IsHQ_QaTil) December 6, 2023
Future generation ⭐⭐⭐
— Indian sport action (@sportszone_17) December 6, 2023
Big words of appreciation from one of the most beautiful strokemakers in the game. The Calypso King Lara. Gill is highly rated but these words are special
— Anurag Rekhi (@Dravidict) December 6, 2023
Yeah he can break. He has to be consistent first.❤️ pic.twitter.com/F0L4m9LbQR
— Karthik (@vsk_says) December 6, 2023
Keep going
— Anika (@stunninganika) December 6, 2023
Exciting times for cricket fans. Let's cheer for Gill as he takes on the challenge 💪 💪 pic.twitter.com/68U7a8RrVC
— Simple man (@ArbazAh87590755) December 6, 2023
I am his huge fan but
— TOP 10 OF EVERYTHING (@top10ofeveryT) December 6, 2023
He doesn’t have patience for being a great test player imo
He could improve though 🤍
If he plays continuously then it will be fine, otherwise his form will also be tested.
— Deepak. (@CricCrazyDeepak) December 6, 2023
Lagta nh aisa kehna asan hota karna bht mushkil hota 👀
— MUHAMMAD BILAL 🖤 (@MBILAL_56) December 6, 2023
Well said.. gill is definitely a good player
— Rameen Khan (@rameen___khan) December 6, 2023