Former Pakistan cricketer draws similiarites between Shubman Gill and Sachin Tendulkar

Shubman Gill’s recent achievements attracted further attention as former Pakistani captain Wasim Akram made comparisons between the great Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar with Shubman Gill. In the recently finished Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season, Gill was a star player. 

The 23-year-old scored 890 runs, including three centuries and four fifty-plus scores, for the runner-up Gujarat Titans (GT), earning him the Orange Cap. The eagerly awaited World Test Championship (WTC) final involving India and Australia will take place at The Oval beginning on June 7. Gill is currently in London to take part in the match.  

Akram has added his voice to the chorus of admiration for the outstanding opening batter, who has received accolades from the Indian cricket media for his consistent performances. Although some people might take offence with Gill being compared to Virat Kohli as well as Tendulkar, who were both previous India captains, Akram found parallels between the two from the perspective of a bowler. 

I think he is the kind of player who can score in all three formats: Wasim Akram

The renowned Pakistani bowler claimed in an interview with Sportskeeda that the bowlers presently bowling to Gill are going to have a similar experience to the one he experienced when bowling to Tendulkar throughout his playing career. He said, “When I bowl to a player like Gill, even in T20 format, it’s like I am bowling to Sachin Tendulkar in one-day cricket in the first 10 overs when only two fielders were allowed (outside the 30-yard circle).”

The former Pakistan bowler added that if he delivered to them, he would have an opportunity to dismiss Sanath Jayasuriya, one of Sri Lanka’s most illustrious batters. He claims that Tendulkar and Gill make good cricketing strokes. He went on to say that the Gujarat Titans opener is the kind of player that can reliably produce in all three formats and who will soon become the biggest name of Indian cricket. 

The 57-year-old said that “If I had to bowl to Jayasuriya or Kaluwitharna, I knew I had a chance. I can get them out as they hit on every ball. But, players like Sachin and Gill, they play proper cricketing shots. I think he is the kind of player who can score in all three formats consistently. He is a future superstar of world cricket.”