Aakash Chopra lauds Shubman Gill’s knock in IND vs PAK 2025 Champions Trophy clash, says he plays like pure Desi Ghee

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has showered praise on Shubman Gill for continuing his rich vein of form in the high-octane clash against Pakistan in the ongoing Champions Trophy at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on Sunday.

After scoring a match-winning hundred against Bangladesh, Gill scored an impressive knock of 46 runs off 52 balls against the arch-rivals. Gill timed the ball to perfection and the highlight of his innings was a straight drive against Shaheen Shah Afridi. 

The Indian opener added 69 runs with Virat Kohli for the second wicket after captain Rohit Sharma was bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi on a yorker.

“It won’t be justifiable if we don’t talk about Gill. The way he is playing, don’t you feel he is now just growing in stature? The way he played the straight drives, hit shots after dancing down the wicket and played the pull shots, he was absolutely sensational. Of course, he got a chance. He didn’t score a century but I am still praising him because he plays like pure desi ghee,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra noted that Gill has made tactical changes to his batting technique, which is helping him reap rewards.

“When he started playing, his foot used to go slightly across, he used to play slightly across, it seemed like the ball would hit his pads and he could get out. The attack also used to be slightly more on the legs but all that has changed. The front leg goes absolutely straight now and the balance is absolutely right. He plays the ball under his head,” he explained.

The renowned commentator added that Abrar Ahmed bowled a wicket-taking delivery to get rid of Gill.

“He plays so easily that you will feel calm, that this guy would keep standing and score runs. Of course, he got a very good ball from Abrar. It was just after the drinks. At times, there is a concentration lapse. It was a leg spin kind of delivery and he was playing Abrar for the first time. It was a wicket-taking delivery,” he said.

“However, Shubman Gill is now continuously growing in stature and is showing that another guy is ready when the emperor says he wants to vacate the throne. I will once again say as a broken record that if Gill plays 250 ODIs, he will finish as one of the greatest of all time,” Chopra observed.

India will next take on New Zealand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai on 2nd March.