Former India player Arun Lal had high praise for skipper Shubman Gill, calling him an unbelievable talent, adding that the 25-year-old will be at India’s helm for a long time. Gill proved all the naysayers wrong when he smashed 269 and 161 at Birmingham in the second Test which went a long way in helping India level the series 1-1. The 25-year-old has been in sublime form since coming to England, even scoring a century at Leeds in an ultimately losing effort at Leeds.
“I love Shubman as a cricketer, he is awesome but I never realised he was this good. I’m sure nobody else did either. He has unbelievable talent, unbelievable calm. It’s almost as though he knows what ball is coming before it’s bowled,” Lal said to PTI.
“He’s not an auto-pilot captain, which I admire. He listens, takes advice from (KL) Rahul, (Ravindra) Jadeja and others. His patience and self-assurance are rubbing off on the group. He’s going to be here for a long, long time,” he added.
Lal was highly impressed with India’s comeback at Edgbaston after losing the series opener. He also added that he expects Kuldeep Yadav to be drafted in the playing XI for the 3rd Test at Lord’s, set to begin on Thursday.
“I must admit that when this team was going to England, I didn’t think they had this kind of determination, this kind of belief, this kind of capability. This team has performed far better than expected, and I am so glad about that. These youngsters, once given a chance and that confidence, you better watch out. If you’re sitting out, it will be difficult to break in soon,” he said.
“It’s a big question as far as I’m concerned. You’re playing so many batters till number nine and I’m not in favour of that. You need impact bowlers. Kuldeep is in form, and England’s lower order can struggle against wrist spin,” he said on Kuldeep.
