Former legendary cricketers Zaheer Khan and Nick Knight lavished praises on India’s young guns Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan as India looked to take control of the IND vs ENG 5th Test as well.
Shubman Gill shone with a brilliant century, while Sarfaraz Khan crafted a solid half-century, marking a notable achievement by becoming the first player since Azharuddin to score three 50+ scores in a single Test match.
Shubman Gill scores a stellar 100 in IND vs ENG 5th Test:
Shubman Gill hammered his fourth Test century as the hosts surpassed England’s first-innings total. Gill and India captain Rohit Sharma forged a partnership exceeding 100 runs, both notching up centuries against England in Dharamsala.
Gill’s innings propelled him beyond the 400-run mark in the ongoing Test series, surpassing England’s Zak Crawley to claim the position of the second-highest run-scorer in the five-match series.
Speaking on Gill’s performance Nick Knick who was not in short of any praise was quoted saying:
I could talk about his batting all day, all night. I love watching him bat. I think, obviously, you can be told as many times as you like that you’re going to be good and you’re a good player and all that, but it’s not really until you convince yourself that you can do the job. I think today would have helped that massively. I mean, he unfurled some of his signature shots today. That on-drive, he should do it right-handed, really, the on-drive and that cover drive. I mean, they are fantastic.”
“I’m a bowler, it’s probably a nightmare really watching that. But he looked in so much control today. I thought he was probably at his fluent best, actually, and he dovetailed quite nicely in that first session. He started with a half-century. I think he was on something like 26. But very quickly, Shubman was catching up and playing with great fluency.”
Sarfaraz Khan with a gritty 50 in IND vs ENG 5th Test
In his debut series, India’s middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan continues to impress, recording his third half-century. Entering the crease with India at 279/3, Sarfaraz showcased his talent by confidently facing the English bowlers.
His performance propelled the Men in Blue into a commanding position. The 26-year-old swiftly reached his half-century, surpassing the 50-run mark in the 81st over with a boundary. The former India cricketer Zaheer Khan was thoroughly impressed as Sarfaraz scored his third half-century in the Test
“The journey of improvement as a cricketer is a continuous process throughout one’s career. What’s crucial is seizing the opportunities presented. In Sarfraz’s case, it was a long-awaited moment, given his consistent performances at the first-class level. His numerous centuries signaled his readiness and determination to be noticed and selected. When the opportunity arose, he proved his hunger and determination to make it count.“
“Moving forward, these challenges will persist, but judging by his determination, he will overcome them. His performance in the series demonstrated glimpses of his potential, both on and off the field. His enthusiasm and energy, even when not playing, were evident, showcasing his eagerness to contribute to the team. His debut series performance will surely please the selectors, highlighting his readiness to represent the team at the highest level.“
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