When asked in an interview to choose a batter who may surpass Virat Kohli's unbroken record of 973 runs during the IPL 2016 season, Ravi Shastri immediately chose Shubman Gill. Why not, too. The Indian batting sensation entered the 2023 IPL season after going on a century binge in all three forms, including an ODI double hundred record. Because of a spectacular run of three hundreds in four innings during Gujarat Titans' drive to their second consecutive IPL final, Gill, 23, was another triple-figure mark away from Kohli's record at the midway point of the season. Even though it could be a tall order considering the circumstances and the opposition GT will face, batting icon Sunil Gavaskar is certain Gill can equal the mark.
In Gujarat's second-to-last league game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gill scored his maiden century at home, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. At Chinnaswamy, he imitated the same strategy, which prevented RCB from qualifying for the playoffs. The GT opener then had one of the season's most impressive performances, scoring 129 against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2.
Gill currently leads the Orange Cap race for this season with 851 runs after registering three century in four innings. Third-best in IPL history, the total. Jos Buttler, who made 863 runs in 2022, is now in second place after Kohli, who finished the 2016 season with 973 runs.
Therefore, Gill is 122 runs away from tying Kohli's record, 13 runs away from passing Buttler, and 50 runs away from being the second batter to hit 900 or more runs in a season. Can Gill achieve a similar result against Chennai Super Kings in the IPL final in 2023?
In an interview with India Today, Gavaskar expressed his complete agreement considering Gill's current state. “Yes, that is possible. It seems doable. Gill will have a great chance if Gujarat chooses to bat first. Chennai will seem incapable of hitting 122 if they bat first and are all out for 180. Records are intended to be broken, however. And unlike Muttiah Muralitharan's 800 Test wickets or Sachin Tendulkar's run in Test cricket, this record won't be as tough to surpass. However, 122 runs are the main focus here. It can absolutely happen if Gujarat bats first, he added.
Gill scored 105 runs in his two prior matches this season against CSK, including 63 off 36 and 42 off 38.
