NEW DELHI: Former England batter Kevin Pietersen has voiced support for Indian batter Shubman Gill, urging patience for the young talent to find his form in Test cricket.
Pietersen compared Gill's situation to cricket legend Jacques Kallis, who had a slow start to his Test career but went on to become one of the greatest players in the sport.
Pietersen took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his views, stating, "Kallis averaged 22 in his first 10 Tests and turned out to be arguably the greatest player to play the game. Give @ShubmanGill time to find it please. He's a serious player! #INDvENG."
Gill gained recognition for his outstanding performances during India's historic series win against Australia in the 2020-21 season. However, since that remarkable series, Gill's Test numbers have been below expectations.
Despite the recent struggles, Pietersen highlighted the young batter's potential and requested patience in allowing him to develop in the longest format of the game.
In 22 Tests, Shubman Gill has accumulated 1,097 runs at an average of 29.64, including two centuries and four fifties. While his initial success in Australia garnered attention, his recent performances have faced scrutiny.
Pietersen's comparison with Jacques Kallis emphasizes the point that players may take time to establish themselves in Test cricket.
In the ongoing second Test between India and England, Gill contributed with a knock of 34 runs on day one, supporting Yashasvi Jaiswal's outstanding innings.
(With inputs from ANI)
