• Source:JND
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2011 ODI World Cup-winning all-rounder Suresh Raina feels that Shubman Gill will replicate skipper Rohit Sharma’s 2019 World Cup form in the upcoming marquee event for Men in Blue. The opening batter is the highest run-getter for the team including all formats. He was in prolific touch in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023 as well.  

The right-handed opening batter smashed 121 against Bangladesh and also smashed half-centuries against Nepal and Pakistan in the continental tournament. He finished as the highest run-getter in the tournament with 302 runs.  

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“He’s been consistent for a year and a half. He struggled in the middle against West Indies, but the way he's come back and scored good runs in the Asia Cup. He is looking positive, using good footwork, and from getting out at 40 against the West Indies, he is now comfortably hitting 50s and even 100s. He'll be one of the most important players at the World Cup,” Raina said on JioCinema.

The former spin-bowling all-rounder further opined that Gill aspires to be the next superstar of Indian cricket like Virat Kohli. The veteran cricketer further highlighted Gill’s proficiency by mentioning the lack of opponents’ game plan against the batter.  

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“I know that he wants to be a superstar and wants to be the next Virat Kohli and is in that aura already and after this World Cup, we will be talking about him more often. The form he's playing in with his hand speed - it's extremely strong. Spinners don't know where to bowl to him and if fast bowlers don't swing the ball, he can play those really well with a straight or a flick. His mindset will not stop here. What Rohit Sharma did in the 2019 World Cup; Gill could do the same for India this year. He'll get 50 overs to bat, so it's a takeoff point for his batting. I think he's a born leader and he shows that in his game,” he added.

Gill will be in action in the three-match ODI series against Australia, starting on Friday in Mohali, Punjab. The opening batter will eye a sparkling performance in front of his home crowd.