Former India player Suresh Raina feels that Shubman Gill can do what Rohit Sharma achieved in 2019. He backed Gill to perform well and break records at the upcoming  2023 World Cup at home. Back in 2019, India’s skipper Rohit Sharma became the first batsman to smash 5 hundreds at an ODI World Cup. Rohit Sharma had a brilliant outing against the opposition bowlers, making centuries against South Africa, Pakistan, England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The star India opener ended up making 648 runs and topped the table.

Gill on the other hand has cemented his place in the squad as Rohit’s opening partner. He is also the No. 2 batter in the ICC ODI Rankings and has already scored over 1000 runs in the 50-over format in 2023. In the recently passed Asia Cup 2023, Gill smashed a solid century against Bangladesh, displaying his batting finesse on spin-friendly wickets. The Punjab-based batter has played a total of 33 ODIs so far where he amassed 1739 runs, including 5 hundreds, at an average of 63.

“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,” Suresh Raina told Jio Cinema.

“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.”

However, while playing the ODI series against West Indies, Gill only managed to gather 126 runs in 3 matches. But then he regained his form in the Asia Cup, collecting 302 runs and topping the batting charts in the tournament.