Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer praised Shubman Gill, saying that he played one of the most brilliant innings. The India opener smashed 208 off 149 balls as India beat New Zealand by 12 runs to win the first ODI of the three-match series. Speaking with ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer said Gill played one of the most brilliant innings, adding that the youngster played with a lot of maturity.
Talking about the same, Wasim Jaffer said, “Shubman played one of the most brilliant innings. Someone as young as Shubman to score a double hundred and showing maturity, especially with Kohli and everyone else out.
Wasim Jaffer further said that apart from Gill, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner scored runs on a pitch where everyone was struggling.
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The former opener elaborated, “I think apart from Shubman Gill, Bracewell and Santner, everyone was struggling on that pitch. No Indian batsman scored more than 34. Till Bracewell hit Didn’t start off, looked like it would be difficult to come in and hit the ball straight.
The 44-year-old said that if Gill had not batted perfectly, India would have struggled to win the game, insisting that Gill stabilized his innings very maturely.
Explaining the same, Wasim Jaffer said, “If Tom Latham had effected the stumping or taken that catch, India would have struggled to win the game. He was close to 120 then and to recover his innings and score a double century, was a mature game for him. Making 208 out of 350 is an excellent effort. Had he not batted, India would not have reached that score and it would have been difficult considering New Zealand’s response.”
In the end, Wasim Jaffer touched down as India’s choice for the opening spot, with Gill and Ishan Kishan both passing the 200-run mark for the Men in Blue.
Read also: Rohit Sharma welcomes Shubman Gill to the double century club
The former opener said, “A lot of credit to Shubman Gill and we are lucky that India has that kind of talent. You give Ishaan Kishan a chance and he scores a double hundred. You give Gill a chance and get a hundred and a double hundred. So, some great cricket and batting from the Indian players.”
