As India prepares for its Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Bangladesh, captain Rohit Sharma praised his deputy, Shubman Gill, highlighting that his One Day International (ODI) statistics are "extraordinary." This impressive performance was a key factor in Gill's promotion to the vice-captaincy in this format. Rohit’s assessment is accurate; while Gill has faced challenges in Test cricket and has been outperformed by other openers in T20 Internationals, he has excelled in ODIs, demonstrating prowess comparable to that of Virat Kohli, if not superior, particularly considering his remarkable start in 50-over matches.

In his first Champions Trophy match, Shubman Gill achieved an unbeaten score of 101 runs off 129 balls, leading India to a successful opening victory against Bangladesh in Dubai. His performance was instrumental in guiding India to chase down a target of 229 runs in just 46.3 overs, securing the win with six wickets remaining.

Remarkably, Gill reached the milestone of eight ODI centuries in only 51 innings, making him the fastest Indian batter to achieve this feat. This accomplishment is six innings quicker than Shikhar Dhawan, 17 innings faster than Virat Kohli, and 47 innings ahead of Sachin Tendulkar.

It is evident that Gill's immense talent has flourished in the ODI format. Furthermore, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez is well-positioned to carry forward Kohli's legacy.

‘Shubman Gill trying to take Virat Kohli’s legacy forward'

Over the last three years, since Shubman Gill joined the Indian cricket team, he has been striving to emulate Virat Kohli and continue his legacy, as noted by Mohammad Hafeez on "Game On Hai."

Hafeez remarked, "It was his eighth ODI century, yet it was among his slowest." He expressed satisfaction with Gill's ability to adapt his batting to the match situation, emphasizing the need to manage pressure and control the game on that particular pitch.

Gill reached his century off 125 deliveries, marking it as his slowest ODI century, but he found it to be the most "satisfying" as he remained at the crease until the end, navigating a pitch that became increasingly challenging for aggressive batting.

Hafeez highlighted that at the age of 25, Gill exhibits a maturity that belies his years, demonstrating a keen understanding of when to be aggressive and when to remain composed under pressure.

"He played contrary to his natural attacking style and instead delivered a match-winning performance. It is encouraging to witness someone so young effectively managing the game. He possesses the awareness to know when to strike and when to withstand pressure. He thrives on the big stage, taking responsibility and ensuring the team's success. His control over the game was exceptional," Hafeez concluded.

Read Also: Sunil Gavaskar’s Reality Check for Kohli: ‘Adapt or Keep Falling to Spin’

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