Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) are all set to defend their title in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 Final against MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
In the Qualifier 2 clash against Mumbai Indians (MI), the Titans displayed an exceptional performance, particularly with the bat, as they posted an imposing total of 233/3 in their allotted 20 overs. The standout performer for the defending champions was star opening batter Shubman Gill. The 24-year-old played a scintillating knock, smashing an astonishing 129 runs off just 60 deliveries, marking his third century in the cash-rich league.
In response, Mumbai were bowled out for 171 runs, losing the contest by 81 runs. Veteran pace bowler Mohit Sharma was the standout performer for the Titans’ with the ball, claiming a remarkable five-wicket haul. Shubman, with a remarkable tally of 851 runs, currently maintains the top position as the highest run-scorer of the season. It is highly probable that he will continue to hold this position even after the final match, considering his substantial lead over the following batters.
For the unversed, Shubman was a member of the U19 World Cup-winning team in 2018, led by Prithvi Shaw. These former U19 teammates began their cricketing journey together but have since had contrasting paths in their careers. Shubman has flourished as a batting prodigy and is frequently hailed as the prospective face of Indian cricket. On the other hand, Prithvi’s career has encountered a setback.
Speaking about the same, Shubman’s childhood coach, Karsan Ghavri, made a comparison between the two stars and strongly criticized Prithvi’s attitude. Ghavri claimed that the opener for the Delhi Capitals (DC) carries a perception of being a star already and believes he is untouchable by anyone.
“They were in the same team that won the U-19 World Cup in 2018, right? Today where is Prithvi Shaw and where is Shubman Gill? They are in two different categories,” said Ghavri as quoted by The Indian Express.
“Shaw thinks he is a star and nobody can touch him. But he needs to understand that at the international level, irrespective of whether you are playing T20, 50 over or the Test match or even the Ranji Trophy, it takes only one delivery to get you out,” added Ghavri.
