Opinion

Shubman Gill is the next star India wants to fill Virat Kohli’s shoes, says Alastair Cook

Written by Shreyas Vyas

Shubman Gill silenced his critics in style as the India opener got his third Test century on Day 3 of the ongoing second Test match in Vizag on Sunday. The day started off with James Anderson dismissing Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Then, Gill started India’s fightback, although beginning his knock on a shaky note. Soon, he found his momentum and reached his hundred.

Team India ended up posting 255 in their second innings, and England reached 67/1 at Stumps in response. The visitors need 332 runs to win and are chasing a target of 399.

Lauding Gill’s knock, England legend Alastair Cook told TNT Sports, “Gill played beautifully. He has serious talent… and there was probably quite a lot of pressure on his shoulders. At the World Cup [in India], all the billboards were of Kohli, but he’s the next one they want to step into his shoes.”

“That’s a big thing to have the pressure of a country the size of India on your shoulders. As a young talent, that’s something that the likes of Tendulkar and Kohli have dealt with… and he now has to learn to deal with it,” he further added.

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Shreyas Vyas