Young India batter Shubman Gill believes his opening partnership with skipper Rohit Sharma could prove vital in India’s home ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign in October and November and revealed what works for them as batting partners during the game.
The pair of Gill and Sharma are off to a prolific start together in ODI cricket, compiling 685 runs at 76.11 in the nine instances batting together in the format.
The combination’s output will be no doubt important in India’s Cricket World Cup campaign as the side look to emulate their success in 2011.
“It feels great to be able to open with him, especially knowing that all the focus is on him. He’s someone who likes the other batters to go and just express himself and play the way I want to play the game,” Gill was quoted as saying by ICC.
“So in that nature, he gives the players full freedom for how they want to express their game,” he added.
Despite being both right-handers, Rohit and Gill’s style of play in white-ball cricket makes a dangerous combination. The pair have passed fifty in six of eight opening stands, also putting on 143 against Sri Lanka in Guwahati, and 212 against New Zealand at Indore earlier in the year.
Having different plans of attack in their batting and different scoring strengths has proved fruitful, making life difficult for opposition bowlers and captains, forced to formulate different plans for each of them.
“I think because his (Rohit’s) targeted areas are a bit different (to mine). He loves to go aerial in the Powerplay,” Gill said while discussing their contrasting styles of play.
“And I’m someone who likes to find the gaps and keep getting those boundaries, and he’s someone who likes to hit sixes. So I think that combination works well,” he added.
The 23-year old Gill along with his 36-year-old opening partner Sharma will be in action for India at the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka before their home three-match ODI series against Australia to build into the World Cup.
Two time champions India will begin their ODI World Cup campaign in Chennai on October 8 when they face mighty Australia.
