Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt heaped praise on Indian opener Shubman Gill for his 64-run knock against West Indies in the first ODI on Friday.
The 22-year-old batter looked in sublime touch during his 53-ball stay in the middle. He was preferred in the playing XI over Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad to open the innings alongside skipper Shikhar Dhawan.
The duo shared a 119-run stand for the opening wicket to put India on top. Gill looked fluent during his knock was ended by Nicholas Pooran via a direct hit.
“The highlight of the match for me was the way Shubman Gill batted. He played very beautifully. It seems like he has a lot of time, and there is also a lazy elegance. He times the ball so well that it appears as if he is doing it in the action replay,” Butt said on his YouTube channel.
Butt was critical of Gill’s lazy approach while taking the run and said his dismissal cost India 50 runs.
“Shubman Gill wasn’t unlucky with the way he got out. He was lazy. He had a lot of time and should have run faster. However, he was very casual and assumed that the fielder wouldn’t go for the throw. When you’re playing so well, there shouldn’t be such laziness. It cost him a hundred and probably cost India another 50 runs,” Butt said.
