Robin Uthappa feels that Shubman Gill’s maiden ODI World Cup hundred isn’t far away and hopes that the young star can achieve the landmark in the first semi-final between India and New Zealand in Mumbai on November 15.
Despite a setback due to dengue that caused him to miss two matches, Gill’s performance in the seven games he played was nothing short of impressive. He amassed 270 runs at an average of 38.57, maintaining a strike rate of just over 104. His highest score in the tournament was 92, and he managed to hit three half-centuries, underlining his consistency and ability to score big.
Gill’s achievements in 2023 extend beyond the World Cup. He became the fastest batter to reach 2000 ODI runs during a match against New Zealand on October 22, surpassing Hashim Amla’s previous record. This milestone was reached in just his 38th innings, highlighting his rapid rise in international cricket. In the same year, he also matched the record for the fastest to 1500 ODI runs in a calendar year, a feat he shares with cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Matthew Hayden, achieving this in 27 innings.
His dominance with the bat also led to him overtaking Babar Azam as the world’s No. 1 ODI batter during the World Cup. Despite this, the 24-year-old is the only Indian top-order batter who is yet to score a hundred in the World Cup this year.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa said that Gill would feel a bit disappointed that he hasn’t scored a hundred in the tournament, but feels that his maiden ton in the World Cup isn’t far away.
The former cricketer is hoping that the young star will be able to achieve the landmark during the game against New Zealand. Uthappa also feels that Gill getting a hundred would complete India’s checklist for the moment with the bowling and batting clicking well.
“In the top 5, four of them have scored hundreds in the World Cup. Except Shubman Gill. Shubman Gill ideally should have scored a hundred. The way he has been batting, he will feel a bit disappointed that he hasn’t been able to score a hundred.”
“When he started off, he came back after dengue, which is very challenging to come back from. But the kind of form he has been able to play with. Especially in the last few matches, that hundred isn’t far away and I hope he gets it in this match. Because it would be so complete. All the bowlers are performing well, all the main batters except Shubman has a hundred. Just to have him on the list would be amazing. So for me, that hundred isn’t far away, and hopefully, he gets it in this match. Either this one or the next. It will be an amazing feat if he will be able to achieve it in the next couple of games,” said Uthappa.
