Playoff games in the IPL are remembered for obvious reasons. Some see that as an opportunity to propel themselves into imagination, whereas others see it as an opportunity to underline why they are a cut above the rest. Then there’s a different category, which houses Shubman Gill.
This bracket is unconcerned with whether or not they are in a playoff. Even not concerned about who their opponent is or what he will do. They just impose their game and cause thousands (or millions) of people to gape in astonishment, both in person and on television.
You’ll see on the scoreboard that Gill hit 129 off 60 balls. This knock also included seven fours and ten sixes. What it doesn’t tell you is how easily he batted. Not breaking a sweat is one of the most overused statements in cricket jargon, but the Gujarat Titans (GT) opener scarcely broke a sweat until he was at the crease and handled his innings as simply another day at the job.
Most cricketers are not even considered to ever bat in this manner, let alone accomplish it. And here’s a 23-year-old who makes batting look as simple as taking your dog for a walk.
Shubman Gill produced a special knock against MI
This knock was full of strokes all around the pitch. There is typically a region you can isolate when discussing T20 batsmen, and this can have an influence on run-scoring. With Gill, it all seems useless.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) gave it their all in Qualifier 2 but fell well short. They tried to spin, but it was routinely despatched for sixes. MI attempted to bowl hard lengths, but Gill read it like it was every morning before slamming it into the stands.
The sound the ball produced when it hit with his bat was nothing short of a symphony. It was almost as if he were a seasoned musician, methodically selecting his notes and playing those tunes at the appropriate tempo while establishing the correct rhythm.
What made it even more extraordinary was the sense of shit selection all over the field that surrounded it all. When Gill was on strike, singles and doubles felt like an exception and maybe a letdown.
Many fans whether on social media, at the stadium, or in the commentary box, would have thought that this was the finest IPL knock they had ever seen. Considering the IPL has been operating for more than 15 years and has seen plenty of spectacular performances.
The fact that we’re having this talk shows how amazing Gill was. Add to it the high stakes, the pressure of being in a real knockout match, and the fear that one error may lead to a failed championship defence, and it’s not hard to see why numerous individuals felt they had witnessed pure brilliance in the flesh.
The best aspect, from the perspective of an Indian fan, is that he has done it across formats and under varying situations. Only a few months ago, he was here, scoring his second Test century against Australia. Then he scored a double century against New Zealand in an ODI and a hundred in a T20I. In the IPL, he now has three centuries in a season.
This may seem dramatic, but there isn’t much more for Gill to accomplish. But, on the basis of his knock, he doesn’t appear to be satisfied to rest on his laurels. If anything, he wants this to be the standard by which he is constantly assessed.
His performance tells what you may need to know about him. And, if there were any questions, this playoff craziness has established that Gill has launched himself into a league of his own.
Every now and again, someone appears who seemed to have been born to bat. That is why these batters have been termed “generational talents.” Gill has always appeared destined to earn this title.
But he may be growing out of it now. He’s making people run out of superlatives, rendering stories like this obsolete, and making observers wonder how much of a ceiling he truly has.
You never know what is possible with Gill. Because anything and everything appears to be attainable.
