India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill played one of the most memorable innings of his international career during the match against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy 2025. The opener struck an unbeaten hundred to take India past the finish line.
After his knock, Shubman Gill received praises from all corners. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra was also one of them and lauded the youngster. Chopra even snatched the ‘King’ title of Virat Kohli and gave it to Shubman Gill.
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Aakash Chopra snatches Virat Kohli’s ‘King’ title and gives it to Shubman Gill
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra discussed Gill’s magnificent knock in Dubai that helped India start the tournament with a win. Chopra termed this knock as Gill’s best ODI hundred as it came in a pressure situation in an ICC tournament.
“Was this Gill’s best ODI innings? This was his eighth century but his first in an ICC event, and ICC centuries are different because the pressure is different. I think this is his best ODI hundred, although he has scored a double century as well,” Chopra said.
Chopra further took away the ‘King’ title given to Virat Kohli and elevated Shubman Gill from prince to King. He also made a strong claim that Gill has the potential to become one of the greatest ODI batters if he plays 250 matches in his ODI career.
“We call him prince but he is no lesser than the king. He understands the template of ODI cricket so well. ODI cricket doesn’t happen that much. However, if he plays say 250 matches, he will finish as one of the greatest ODI batters ever,” Chopra reckoned.
“This century was definitely the best of his career. Considering the potential he has, especially from the ODI cricket perspective, the sky is the limit,” the former India opener added.
Aakash Chopra hails Shubman Gill’s matured knock
While speaking further in the same video, Aakash Chopra hailed Shubman Gill’s maturity during this knock. He feels that Gill played a perfect second-fiddle to his captain Rohit Sharma and stayed there till the end.
“This knock was important as wickets were falling from the other end. It seemed like it might be a very easy run chase, but the job had become difficult. He kept his ego aside,” the former India batter observed.
“Rohit Sharma was hitting fours one after the other but the guy was playing steadily because the big picture says the real hero is the one who wins the game,” Chopra added.
The opening partnership between Gill and Rohit Sharma yielded 69 runs in just 9.5 overs for India. Rohit scored 41 off just 36 balls before getting out to Taskin Ahmed. It put the Men in Blue ahead in the game and the other batters could afford to take their time on a pitch that got trickier for batting as the game progressed.
Shubman Gill’s magnificent knock under pressure
Shubman Gill paced his innings brilliantly and batted according to the situation. He started aggressively before taking the role of an anchor after seeing Rohit Sharma batting in an attacking mode at the other end.
There was a moment in the game when India had lost 3 wickets for 32 runs and it seemed like Bangladesh were coming back into the match. The pitch was getting tough for the batters and the spinners proved to be difficult to put away.
But Gill showed his class and composure to soak the pressure. The right-hander completed his century off 125 balls, the slowest ton by an Indian batter since the ODI World Cup 2019. It was also his first hundred in an ICC tournament.
But it was an invaluable hundred from the youngster as it helped in taking India to an important victory. Gill remained unbeaten on 101 off 129 balls and struck 9 fours and 2 sixes during his knock.
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