As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season draws near, fans are eagerly anticipating the thrilling matches that lie ahead. Many have already begun speculating on which teams will come out on top, and who will be the standout performers of the tournament. One name that keeps cropping up in these discussions is Shubman Gill, the Punjab-born opener for Gujarat Titans (GT).
Former Australian captain Aaron Finch is the latest to sing Gill’s praises, claiming that he is the “X-factor” for GT in 2023, and that his performances will determine the team’s fate. Finch, who has played for nine franchises across his IPL career, is uniquely qualified to make such an assessment, and he is not alone in his assessment of Gill’s talent.
Gill has had a fantastic start to 2023, scoring five centuries for the Indian national side in the first three months of the year. This includes becoming the fifth Indian batter to score a double-ton in ODI cricket, as well as an impressive 122 against New Zealand in T20s. While Gill’s talent has never been in doubt, it seems that 2023 will be the year he truly breaks out and cements himself as a superstar in the world of cricket.
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If Gill can continue this form in the IPL, there is no doubt that GT will be a force to be reckoned with. In 2022, Gill opened the batting for the side and scored 483 runs on his way to picking up the trophy with GT for the first time. Finch believes that if Gill fires again this year, GT’s middle-order will function very well, making them very difficult to beat.
But it’s not just Finch who recognizes Gill’s immense talent. Shikhar Dhawan, who will captain the Punjab Kings in IPL 2023, recently claimed that he would pick Gill over himself in the national team based on current form. Dhawan, who has been a mainstay of the Indian team for about a decade, cemented himself as a gun opener in the limited-overs formats. However, Gill’s scintillating form has seen him rise through the ranks, and Dhawan admits that he would select the 23-year-old over himself if he were a selector.
All eyes will be on Gill as IPL 2023 kicks off, and fans will be eagerly anticipating his performances. With the talented opener in top form, GT has every chance of defending their title and making it two in a row.