'Looks Like Mini Rohit Sharma': Ramiz Raja Heaps Praise On Shubman Gill

While talking about India's ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, Raja showered praise on India opener Shubman Gill.

Shubman scored 208 off 149 in the 1st ODI vs New Zealand while remaining unbeaten on 40 in the 2nd.

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Ex-Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has once again shifted his attention to sharing his view on cricket and cricketing concerns around the world. When he was busy heading Pakistan's cricket governing body, he wasn't that much active on his YouTube channel and mainly spoke only in the press conferences, asking questions by the media directed at issues around the country's cricket administration.

However, after being sacked as the PCB Chairman, Raja is back to being a full-time cricket expert. While talking about India's ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, Raja showered praise on India opener Shubman Gill and even labelled him a "mini Rohit Sharma."

"Shubman Gill looks like a mini-Rohit Sharma. He has extra time and looks good. He has enough potential. Aggression will also develop with time. He doesn't need to change anything. He scored a double hundred recently," Raja said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

"Batting was easy for India because they have an outstanding batter like Rohit Sharma. He plays exceedingly well. He is an amazing striker of hook-and-pull shots, so a 108-run chase becomes easy," he added.

"What India batters need to do, top order in particular, is the fact that their front-foot batting is looking weak. It's easy to hit from the back foot, but once the ball is tossed up, you rely on defense, then there is some error," the 60-year-old said.

While it was Shubman Gill's double hundred in the first ODI against the Kiwis that helped India win, in the second ODI it was their bowling which set the stage for their 8-wicket win with 179 deliveries to spare. 

Player of the Match Mohammed Shami picked up 3 wickets for 18 runs, Washington Sundar and Hardik Pandya scalped 2 wickets a piece while Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav returned with a wicket each against their name as the hosts bundled out the BlackCaps for 108.

In response, Rohit Sharma scored a brisk half-century (51 off 50) before Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan took India over the line. 

"India's resurgence in ODI and Test cricket is on the basis of bowling because their batting is historically strong," Raja said in praise of the India's bowling.