India opener Shubman Gill impressed one and all with a classy half-century on day two of the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The 21-year-old, who made his Test debut in the previous Test in Melbourne, played some delightful strokes at the SCG on Friday to help his team get a good start.
Watch highlights: Shubman Gill scores fifty as India trail by 242 at stumps on Day 2 of Sydney Test
Gill finished with 50 off 101, with eight fours that included some elegant drives, cuts and pulls off Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Co.
Gill and his opening partner Rohit Sharma (26 off 77 balls) added 70 runs in 27 overs to set a good platform for the Indian innings.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Gill’s knock:
A deserved 50 for Gill 👏 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/iexCpfiGI0
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 8, 2021
For someone playing only his 2nd test match @RealShubmanGill looks very assured at the wicket. Good solid defence, positive stroke play and clarity of thought. Definitely has a very bright future for India in all the 3 formats. #AUSvsIND
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 8, 2021
Such a nice satisfying day of Test cricket to watch. Saw excellence in batting through Steve Smith. Excellence in fielding thanks to Jadeja and potential world class player of the future in Shubman Gill. #AUSvIND
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 8, 2021
He is just starting out but Shubman Gill is the real thing.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 8, 2021
Nice Shubman. First of what is hoped to be converted into many hundreds in a bright future.
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) January 8, 2021
Shane Warne insured his fingers, Shubhman should insure his backfoot.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) January 8, 2021
Shubman Gill looks to be exactly where he ought to be in India’s test side.#INDvsAUS #talent #class
— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) January 8, 2021
That pull shot!#shubmangill #AUSvIND
— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) January 8, 2021
Gill’s backfoot drives through the offside are utterly delightful
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 8, 2021
Shubman Gill looks the part,times the ball so well. #AUSvIND
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) January 8, 2021
If Gill had a signature cocktail, it'd be Backfoot Punch
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) January 8, 2021
A 50+ opening stand for India after 13 Test innings.
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 8, 2021
The last was 317 btw Rohit Sharma & Mayank Agarwal against South Africa at Vizag in Oct 2019.
Next best: 30 btw Shaw & Agarwal at Christchurch in Mar 2020.#AUSvIND #AUSvINDtest
Happy Shubman Gill day everyone https://t.co/9STjcC8eb8
— Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) January 8, 2021
An argument to be made that Rohit and Shubman make up the most aesthetically pleasing Test opening pair there’s been.#AUSvIND
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) January 8, 2021
Most runs by an Indian opener in the first 3 innings Away from home:-
— ComeOn Cricket 🏏🇮🇳 (@ComeOnCricket) January 8, 2021
Gavaskar: 248
Mayank: 195
SHUBMAN GILL: 130
KL Rahul: 110#AUSvIND
Shubman Gill’s signature backfoot punch gets better as you watch it twice
— Gill ka backfoot (@ArjunNamboo) January 8, 2021
pic.twitter.com/TbnHId1caJ
Early call @RealShubmanGill looks like a player who will end up with more than 10,000 Test runs, next big thing in my view #cricket #AUSvIND #AUSvINDtest
— Kiran More (@JockMore) January 8, 2021
One of the classiest overseas half century by an Indian opener in Test Cricket....
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) January 8, 2021
Well played Shubman Gill 😊
An elegant maiden Test fifty for Shubman Gill. He's been prolific in front of square on the offside, with more than half of his runs coming in this zone. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/uzFhEDc1Y3
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 8, 2021
So so impressed with Gill. Can’t believe he is just 21. Calm and composed...such confidence in difficult foreign conditions. Already looks like a legend in making. Congratulations India. Good luck @RealShubmanGill #ShubmanGill
— Manak Gupta (@manakgupta) January 8, 2021
Youngest Indian Opener to score 50+ in Australia
— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) January 8, 2021
Test - Shubman Gill (21yrs)*
ODI - Ravi Shastri (22yrs)
T20I - Kl Rahul (28yrs)#INDvsAUS
Shubman Gill looked so calm and played so well. Cummins gets the wicket, Cam Green with a great catch. Gill has a huge future ahead of him though. Looks the goods. 🇦🇺🇮🇳 #AUSvIND
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) January 8, 2021
In his 130 runs in the Test series, 92 runs came through boundaries for Shubman Gill.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 8, 2021
Shubman Gill scores the first fifty by an Indian in Test cricket in 2021. Interestingly at the age of 21 years, 121 days.#AUSvIND
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) January 8, 2021
The way Shubman Gill has batted in Australia tells alot about how much he loves the ball coming onto the bat. His timing and shot selection was probably spot on, he'll be delightful to watch in home Test series, remember he had 75+ First Class average before making his debut.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 8, 2021
"I think Shubman Gill is fast becoming my favourite player"
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) January 8, 2021
Quite a compliment from Michael Hussey.
