28 November,2023 12:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Harsha Bhogle (Pic: AFP)
India's star opening batsman Shubman Gill has been named as the new captain for Gujarat Titans ahead of the IPL 2024. After former skipper Hardik Pandya's return to Mumbai Indians, 24-year-old Gill was an obvious captaincy choice, having got the coveted 'orange cap' in the last season with 890 runs, second to only Virat Kohli's all-time record of 973.
Shubman Gill is currently the number one ODI batsman according to the ICC rankings and has impressed cricket spectators in all formats of the game. Gill has been a consistent run scorer for the 'Men in Blue'.
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Talking about IPL, Gill has amassed 1,373 runs in 33 innings at an average of 47.34, with three centuries and eight fifties. Last season was monumental for the opener as he slammed 890 runs in 17 matches at an average of 59.33, with three centuries and four fifties and was also named Orange Cap winner.
The opener was instrumental in GT's sensation run since its debut in the IPL. Last season, he smoked 129 runs in 60 balls against Mumbai Indians, the highest by a batter in the IPL playoffs. Gill also hammered three centuries in the last IPL. Only Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter Virat Kohli (2016) and Rajasthan Royals batter Jos Buttler (2022) had more in a single IPL season, scoring four each.
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With Shubman Gill named as the GT's captain, the voice of cricket Harsha Bhogle took to 'X' to express his thoughts.
Taking to Twitter:
Bhogle tweets, "He has had a great year as a batter and he needs to take that next step forward in the next few months with a test series in South Africa and a T20 World Cup where he has competition for his place."