Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh showered praise on young batting sensation Shubman Gill ahead of the forthcoming ICC Cricket World Cup. The 24-year-old is the best-ranked Indian batter in the 50-over format and is just behind Babar Azam who holds the No. 1 spot in the ICC rankings.

Yuvraj reckoned that Gill has the potential to become the best player of this generation. The former cricketer added that the youngster has been working four times harder than normal people from his childhood.

“Shubman Gill has the potential to become the best player of this generation. The guy works hard. Since he was 19-20, his attitude has always been like that. He works four times harder than a normal guy since he was a kid. Whatever I have worked with him, he can be the player of this era,” Yuvraj told The Week.

The 41-year-old lauded Gill’s performance in his debut Test series in Australia in December 2020. The youngster hit a crucial 91-run knock in the fourth Test in Gabba to help India record a historic win.

“He (Gill) scored 91 in a Test match which India won. He scored two fifties as well on his first tour to Australia which I don’t know how many players have done. I am sure he will score runs in Australia, South Africa as well as England,” he added.

Yuvraj, who was the Player of the Tournament in India’s title-winning World Cup campaign in 2011, indicated that Gill can be a game-changer for the Men in Blue in the marquee event.  

“He (Gill) is in such a stage right now that he is fearless. He can be a game-changer for India in the World Cup. He opened up the game against Pakistan and put the bowlers under pressure,” the former cricketer concluded.

Gill will open the innings for India alongside captain Rohit Sharma in the ODI World Cup commencing on October 5. He has thus far amassed 1917 runs in 35 ODIs at an average of 66.10. The 24-year-old is the only cricketer to score 1000 ODI runs in 2023.