A batting great of South Africa, Hashim Amla has termed India’s Shubman Gill to be the ‘next big thing’ in international cricket next to Rishabh Pant and South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton.
Gill has been in a terrific run of form, and is presently ranked the number-one batter in the one day format. He carried that form into the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he scored a hundred against Bangladesh and followed it up with a 46 against Pakistan in Dubai.
“Just about everywhere you look, Shubham Gill for India; Rishabh Pant has been there for a while now; Ryan Rickelton for South Africa, he has been doing really well of late,” said Amla, who is currently playing for South Africa Masters in the International Masters League, in an interview with PTI Videos.
“I think every country usually has about 2-3 cricketers who are going to come through. That is pretty normal – you see every five years some youngster pokes his head through international cricket and possibly going to the next best, big thing,” he said.
Amla believes that there is a lot of influence from this opening batsman in India’s success in the format and with their other top three batters-Rohit Sharma in the mix followed by Virat Kohli-makes it a dangerous trio.
“He is a brilliant player, the way he started in one-day cricket, he has been exceptional. He has been a huge part of India’s success at the top of the order.”
“Then you have Rohit Sharma next to him, it is a very potent and dangerous opening partnership, and then they have Virat Kohli at three.”
On who are the favorites to win the ongoing ICC tournament, Amla thinks that both India and South Africa stand a strong chance to go on, all the way.
“India have obviously a very good chance, they have a fantastic team over the (last) 15-odd years,” he said
“South Africa have great opportunity too, they have fantastic batting and bowling, and the whole unit looks very well balanced; they have an excellent chance to make it to the top four and then hopefully win it.”
India having won their two games have qualified for the semi-final whereas South Africa is on top of Group B with three points. Another victory for the South African team will guarantee them a spot in the semi finals of the tournament.
