Sunil Gavaskar praised Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill for their impressive performances on Day 1 of the only Test between India and Afghanistan on Saturday, June 6, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.
Gavaskar remarked on the pleasure of watching Shubman, who scored a stylish century. He noted that Shubman’s batting technique and shot selection are nearly flawless.
“It is truly enjoyable to watch Shubman Gill bat. He makes it look easy. There is a rare clarity in his technique. His bat and pad come together beautifully, and the way he leans into his drives showcases near perfection in his game. His head remains steady, his balance is excellent, and his shot selection is sharp. This is what makes his batting so enjoyable. He doesn’t just stay at the crease; he takes control of it,” Gavaskar said during Cricket Live.
“He rotates the strike wisely and capitalizes on loose balls. His approach is straightforward, high-quality Test batting. In a time when batters often try to attack every delivery, Gill exemplifies the old-fashioned values of patience, timing, and placement. That’s what makes him a pleasure to watch,” he added.
Shubman ended the day with an unbeaten 103 runs off 143 balls, including 11 fours and one six. He will resume his innings on Day 2, aiming for his second double century.
Rishabh Pant was recently replaced as vice-captain by KL Rahul and also stepped down from his role as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants after a disappointing IPL 2026. Gavaskar noted that Pant seemed to benefit from the reduced pressure during Saturday’s play.
“It was refreshing to see Rishabh Pant bat so freely in his 50th Test. He is no longer under the pressure of being vice-captain of the Test team or leading an IPL side. He appeared very relaxed, and that showed in his body language as he came out to bat. He seemed calm and ready. Then, in one over, he hit three sixes, changing the momentum. You could feel he wants to make a statement with a big hundred. He’s already halfway there. If he continues like this tomorrow, he could propel India to 500 or 550 quickly,” Gavaskar said.
Pant finished the day at 50 runs off just 70 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. After settling in, the 28-year-old opened up in an over from Abdul Malik, hitting three sixes. Reaching three figures would greatly boost his confidence.