Not Shubman Gill! Wasim Akram Names 26-Year-Old CSK Star As 'Bright Future Of Indian Cricket'

The 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has recently reached its conclusion. Several young Indian stars had stellar seasons and made a name for themselves in the tournament. No one had a more stellar season than Shubman Gill, who finished with the Orange Cap. The Gujarat Titans opener smashed 890 runs and also scored 3 centuries, thus becoming the third batter after Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler to do so. However, legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has named star Chennai Super Kings opener Ruturaj Gaikwad as the one who has a bright future in Indian cricket, and not Shubman Gill.

Ruturaj Gaikwad finished 7th on the Orange Cap leaderboard with 590 runs, as he was the second-highest run-getter for the champions Chennai Super Kings, and played an important part in the side's title triumph in this season of the IPL. He averaged 42.14 and slammed 4 half-centuries in IPL 2023, including one in Qualifier 1, thus winning the Man of the Match in the crucial encounter. In the final he also scored a crucial 16-ball 26 as the match was reduced to 15 overs due to rain and the target was revised to 170. Wasim Akram said that when his team was under pressure he came up with an excellent performance. He also said that Gaikwad is a good fielder and extremely physically fit as well.

“He came up with an excellent performance under pressure. The plus with him is that he is physically very fit. He is a very good fielder and is young as well. (Ruturaj) Gaikwad has a bright future when it comes to Indian cricket as well as the franchises he plays for,” Akram said in an interaction with Sportskeeda.

Ruturaj Gaikwad was initially supposed to be part of the reserve players in the World Test Championship final Indian squad. However, due to his marriage he will not be able to travel to England, and Yashasvi Jaiswal has replaced him.