Ricky Ponting terms Shubman Gill as a ‘very driven’ person

Ricky Ponting praises Shubman Gill as future India captain, excelling in ODI cricket with natural aggression and leadership qualities.

Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting termed opener Shubman Gill who understands his path and marked him as the future captain of India.

Gill, currently the ODI vice-captain, is in red-hot form in 50-over format and made a bright beginning to the ongoing Champions Trophy with a hundred in India’s six-wicket win over Bangladesh.

“We've had a chance to catch up over the last couple of years, particularly around the IPL season. I like his demeanour. He seems like a very driven guy who wants to be the best that he possibly can be with batting and also as far as leadership's concerned,” Ponting told ICC Review.

“He just seems like a really nice character. A really softly spoken guy, very driven for what he wants to achieve in the game,” Ponting said.

The former Australian captain said the one-day format suits Gill’s style of batting, and hoped the 25-year-old will soon translate that success into Test cricket.

“He's been a very, very good international player for a number of years. He hasn't sort of transferred that over into Test Match cricket yet, but his white ball cricket over the last three or four years has been outstanding.

“Look, he's a big game player as well. He's played really well in IPLs over the last couple of years, obviously being captain of his franchise,” said Ponting.