Cricket
Shubman Gill- Recent Century Shows His Versatility.
Hardik Pandya just lost his form and missed a wide yorker from left-handed seamer Ben Lister, who made his debut. The wide yorker is now home to Blair Tickner, but Shubman Gill sits deep in the ruck, keeps his shape and pokes the ball away between the keeper and the short third with hands that look like they belong to a neurosurgeon. Tickner falls to his knees in shock, while Hardik nods in approval at Gill’s unique ability to make a bowler’s best ball look like a bad one.
Lister then throws a wide yorker to Shubman Gill but he is protected at deep point and has a short third fielder in place. However, Gill is good enough to get the ball through between the two fielders. Lister’s best ball is the yorker, but he can also throw cutters.
Lister is once again going for his best ball. He draws his line much straighter and hits the stumps with it. Even if he misses by just a few inches, his throw is hard to hit. Try telling that to Shubman Gill. He uses the entire strike zone and hits the ball across the field, splitting long-off and long-on in half. Now Finn Allen and Michael Bracewell look at each other in shock.
Gill then scored an unbeaten 126 off 63 balls in the series final in Ahmedabad. That’s two runs per ball at a venue where the square and straight boundaries are about 70 meters apart. Hardik and Rahul Tripathi were both caught on the boundary in Ahmedabad, which is no Indore. This 23-year-old man clears the boundary seven times and skillfully manipulates the field.
When they first met in Australia in 2021, Rohit Sharma recognized a genuine Test match batsman in Gill. Recently, Gill underlined his maturation as an ODI opener with a superb double hundred against New Zealand in the first ODI in Hyderabad. This great knock also secured him the starting spot for India in the upcoming ODI World Cup in October/November. Until Wednesday, Gill was more Clark Kent than Superman in T20 cricket.
Hardik was asked if Prithvi Shaw would bat first on his return before the T20I series opener in Ranchi. Shaw has been India’s top powerplay scorer since his T20 debut in 2018. His strike rate of 152.27 is among the best in the world. Hardik, on the other hand, insisted Gill would get the “first chance” ahead of Shaw and backed him to succeed.
In the first two T20Is, played on “shoestring”, Shubman Gill didn’t do much, but in the third he showed he could keep up with the fast pace of T20 cricket. On the IPL website, he has usually been the anchor at the top for both Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans. On Wednesday night, however, he threw all caution to the wind and kept smashing the ball up the ground. In all, Gill scored 34 runs in the powerplay, which is his best ever total at this stage.
When Tripathi started, Gill just sat back and sank the ball in the gaps. But after Tripathi was run out and Gill scored his first fifty off 35 balls, he quickly scored his second fifty off just 19 balls. At this stage of the game, Gill transformed from Clarke Kent to Superman, which made the people of Metropolis Ahmedabad very happy. He scored many more runs than New Zealand, which helped India win the T20I series 2-1.
Gill told Star Sports after receiving the player of the match award, “It’s a good feeling when you work hard and it pays off.” “I thought I could get the big wins in one-dayers and T20 tournaments as well, but I failed to do that in the Sri Lanka series and the first couple of games here [against New Zealand]. But I’m happy that [now] I can score the big hits for the team.
“I mean, everyone has a different way of hitting sixes, and Hardik bhai told me before the game and even before the series to just play my game and bat the way I normally do. “You don’t need to do anything else,” he kept telling me, and he kept helping me. Today, in the game, it worked for me.”
Hardik, who also captained Gill at Gujarat Titans ( IPL), was so pleased with Gill’s development in all formats that he compared him to Suryakumar at the post-match press conference.
Hardik said of Gill, “He’s so good technically that it’s very easy for him.” “All he needs to do to play T20, ODI and Test cricket is to flip a switch because he has the game for all three. To be honest, he doesn’t need to play behind the wicket because he can play all kinds of shots in front of the wicket, using the gaps. He, like Surya [Suryakumar Yadav], is one of those batsmen who can hit good balls and make them bad.
“Apart from that, it’s great to see how much he’s developed, and that’s helped me a lot as a captain. He’s a lad with a good head on his shoulders and I believe he’ll be very useful to the Indian cricket team in the future. I hope the best for him and want him to continue to develop as well as he’s doing now
Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand captain, also spoke about how hard it’s to beat Gill. “We found out in the one-day games that he’s pretty hard to stop,” Santner said. “I think we threw him three times, which doesn’t help, but he worked hard on the surface early. He knew the pitch was good to hit, and I think it took him about 30 balls to get to 50, and then about 20 balls to get to 70.
Gill has only played 40 internationals, but he already has hundreds in all three formats. Only four other Indians also have hundreds in all three internationals. Even for a 23-year-old, it can be hard to play all three formats, but Gill won’t stop there.
“I mean, I don’t think there’s any kind of fatigue when you’re representing your country,” Gill said. “I’ve always wanted to play for India, and the fact that I can do it in all three formats is a blessing. I don’t think there is any fatigue.”
Considering how many goals Shubman Gill has scored this year, it could be that the other team is tired. If Gill keeps this up, he has a bright future in all areas of music.
On Thursday, November 2, Virat Kohli achieved an accomplishment. He became the batsman to surpass 1000 runs in ODIs in 2023, following in the footsteps of Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. Not that,. He also joined Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Pathum Nissanka as the fourth players to achieve this impressive record in the 50-over format within the same year.
Stepping into History with 1000 Runs in ODIs
Entering the realm of history, Kohli’s unwavering determination and exceptional skills were put on display during his match in 2023. Notably, the cricket maestro, now 34 years old, made an indelible impact by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar‘s record, securing the most number of years with 1000 runs in ODIs. Kohli’s consistent ability to perform at such an exceptional level has been a defining characteristic of his illustrious career, as he had previously achieved this monumental milestone in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019, before accomplishing it once again in the present year of 2023.
Sachin Tendulkar with god of cricket Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/zmztejNBBB
— Kevin (@imkevin149) November 2, 2023
An Unforgettable Journey
In an intense World Cup 2023 clash against Sri Lanka at the renowned Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Virat Kohli’s pursuit of this historic milestone was realized with an impressive 34 runs. Despite facing challenges, including a rare duck against England at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, his overall performance throughout the year has been nothing short of spectacular.
Kohli’s memorable journey was highlighted by an unbeaten century during India’s triumphant seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune. Adding to his illustrious record, he solidified his stature with a brilliant 95 runs, making a significant contribution to India’s thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand led by Tom Latham at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Pune.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, on Tuesday, October 31, achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the third fastest bowler to secure 100 wickets in ODIs. His outstanding performance during Pakistan’s World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh at the renowned Eden Gardens in Kolkata led to this historic accomplishment.
A Landmark Moment
In the thrilling encounter, Shaheen clinched his 100th wicket in only his 51st match, dismissing Tigers’ opening batter Tanzid Hasan Tamim. The left-arm fast bowler displayed exceptional skill as he struck Tamim on the pads, prompting the on-field umpire to raise his finger. Despite Tamim’s referral to the third umpire using the Decision Review System (DRS), the replays confirmed the ball crashing into the stumps, upholding the on-field decision. Bangladesh lost their first wicket with the scoreboard reading 0 in just 0.5 overs.
Shaheen Afridi soars high yet again with another feat to his name 🦅#CWC23 | #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/IlQQ6P5xYK
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 31, 2023
Surpassing Preceding Records
Shaheen Shah Afridi not only secured this feat in record time but also outshone the accomplishments of esteemed bowlers preceding him. He surpassed the record of the fastest pacer, previously held by Mitchell Starc, who attained the milestone in August 2016 during an ODI against Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Legacy of Excellence
Moreover, Shaheen shattered the long-standing record held by Saqlain Mushtaq, becoming the fastest Pakistani bowler to claim 100 wickets in ODIs. Saqlain had set this record on May 12, 1997, during an ODI against Sri Lanka in Gwalior. It is notable that among the Pakistani fast bowlers, the accomplished Shaheen Shah Afridi follows in the footsteps of the legendary Waqar Younis, who achieved the 100-wicket mark back in February 1993 against Zimbabwe in Sharjah.
Beyond ODIs
Demonstrating his prowess beyond ODIs, Shaheen has made significant contributions in Tests and T20Is as well. Since his debut in 2018, he has garnered 105 wickets in Tests and 64 wickets in T20Is. His exceptional journey began with a strong performance in the U19 World Cup in New Zealand. Notably, he played a pivotal role in Lahore Qalandars’ consecutive victories in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
A Testament to Talent and Dedication
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s rapid rise to 100 ODI wickets within 51 matches underlines his exceptional talent and unwavering dedication to the sport. As he continues to leave an indelible mark on the cricketing world, his journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers worldwide. With his remarkable achievements, Afridi has solidified his place in the annals of cricket history, etching his name as one of Pakistan’s most formidable and promising fast bowlers.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has recently expressed admiration for India’s dominant performance in the ongoing 2023 ICC World Cup. With India securing victories in all six matches, Akhtar highlighted the team’s exceptional display across various aspects of the game. Although the recent batting performance against England in Lucknow was relatively modest, India’s fierce bowling attack, led by Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, proved instrumental in securing a remarkable win. This triumph not only solidified India’s leading position on the points table but also exacerbated England’s struggles in the tournament, leaving them virtually eliminated.
India’s Remarkable Bowling Transformation
In his analysis, Akhtar emphasized the transformative impact of Shami’s inclusion in India’s playing eleven following Hardik Pandya’s injury. Acknowledging Shami’s outstanding performances against New Zealand and England, Akhtar credited India’s ability to win matches through their bowling prowess, showcasing a shift from their traditional reliance on batting strength. He commended the collective effort of the Indian bowling unit, particularly recognizing the strategic brilliance of fast bowler Bumrah.
India’s Path to World Cup Glory
Looking ahead, Akhtar voiced his confidence in India’s potential to secure their third ODI World Cup trophy, highlighting the team’s upcoming matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands. Expressing optimism, he emphasized the significance of maintaining their unbeaten streak en route to the final, setting the stage for a potential historic ICC World Cup victory. However, Akhtar cautioned against compromising the successful bowling unit once Pandya returns to full fitness, warning against the potential detriment of a partially fit Pandya’s inclusion at the expense of a bowler.
Akhtar’s Praise for India and its Response to Criticism
Addressing skepticism surrounding his praise for the Indian team, Akhtar reiterated the exceptional nature of India’s performance, particularly in their ability to defend a modest total with a significant margin of victory. Undeterred by criticism, Akhtar reaffirmed his admiration for India’s exceptional cricketing prowess, urging acknowledgment and appreciation of their commendable achievements.
Shoaib Akhtar’s Perspective on Virat Kohli
Shifting focus, Akhtar’s history of praise extends beyond team performances to individual players, notably including former Indian team captain Virat Kohli. Reminiscing on Kohli’s resilience during a challenging phase in his career, Akhtar highlighted the pivotal role played by Kohli’s consistent century-scoring performances, leading to India’s victories. Recognizing Kohli’s contribution to the team’s success, Akhtar emphasized the significance of Kohli’s monumental centuries during crucial chases, solidifying his status as a crucial asset for the Indian cricket team.
In a comparison between Kohli and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Akhtar acknowledged Tendulkar’s status as one of the greatest batsmen while highlighting the challenges Tendulkar faced as a captain. Drawing parallels, Akhtar expressed confidence in Kohli’s eventual resurgence, expecting him to return to his prolific scoring form once he finds his equilibrium.
In summary, Akhtar’s acknowledgment of India’s exceptional performance and his recognition of individual players’ contributions underscore the team’s formidable presence in the 2023 ICC World Cup, setting the stage for a potential historic triumph in the coming days.
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Shaheen Shah Afridi: Fastest to 100 ODI Wickets
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