Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson believes Shubman Gill is “ridiculously talented” and should be able to adapt while navigating the various formats and get big runs for India.
In the current white-ball series against Australia, Gill, the captain of India in both Test and ODI matches, has not scored much. In the three One-Day Internationals, he scored 10, 9, and 24 runs; in the three T20 Internationals, he scored 37 not out, 5, and 15.
“It does take time (to make adjustments), and it’s through trial and error that you really realise exactly what you need to do to make those adjustments, and playing in different conditions as well,” Watson said.
“But Shubman is a ridiculously talented batter. He’s got an amazing technique. It’s not going to take him long at all to be able to really navigate his way through the different formats because when someone is as highly skilled as he is, it’s not going to take him too long.”
Gill arrived in Australia following two Test matches at home against the West Indies in which he scored a hundred and fifty in three innings. Although switching formats is difficult, Watson acknowledged that it becomes simpler with more games played.
“It definitely is a challenge, and the more you do it, the better you get at really understanding the little adjustments that you have to make to your technique, to your game plan,” said the 44-year-old who played 59 Tests, 190 ODIs and 58 T20Is for Australia between 2002 to 2016.
Abhishek Sharma, India’s powerful opening batsman who has dominated T20 cricket, received nothing but praise from Watson.
“He is an absolute treat to watch. He’s incredibly good, isn’t he? He is so fearless, but then he’s got the skill to be able to adapt to whatever’s required as well,” Watson said.
“It’s been special to see his evolution over the last two or three years, from when he first came in, got opportunities for Sunrisers Hyderabad. And then seeing him just continue to explode like he has.
“He’s got all the different gears, he’s got all the different shots against different bowlers in different conditions as well.”
