Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull recently recalled a bold prediction he made during the U19 cricket days of Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill. Back in 2018, Doull suggested that Gill would have a longer and more successful career in the Indian national team than Shaw, a statement that has since gained attention as Gill continues to shine.

Doull’s prediction came during a time when both Gill and Shaw were rising stars, having been key players in India's U19 World Cup-winning team in 2018. While Shaw impressed early on with a Test century on debut, it is Shubman Gill who has now emerged as India’s next batting sensation, building a strong reputation in the international arena.

In an interview with Jio Cinema, Doull explained his reasoning behind rating Gill over Shaw. He said, “I made quite a bold statement that Shubman Gill's career would way, way surpass what Prithvi Shaw does because there were some technical flaws in Prithvi Shaw, and Shubman just didn't look like he had technical flaws at that stage.”

What stands out most for Doull is Gill's ability to adapt and improve his game. "The impressive thing about him for me is that he's able to change things, he's able to take in information and process that.”

Doull also praised Gill’s hunger for big scores, highlighting his ambition to consistently deliver impactful performances. “When I interviewed him, he was like, ‘I want big runs. I want big hundreds,’ and that's the hunger of the man,” Doull remarked.

Looking to the future of Indian cricket, Doull sees Gill as one of the key figures alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. “When you think about Jaiswal, Gill, and Pant, they are the future of the batting of this side and he’s got a huge role to play in years to come," he concluded.