Nasser Hussain earmarks Shubman Gill and Rachin Ravindra as future greats

India’s Shubman Gill and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra have been hailed as cricket’s future legends by none other than Nasser Hussain himself. The former England captain, in a recent video for the Apex Cricket Board, expressed unwavering belief in the young stars’ potential for greatness.

Showering praise on Gill, Hussain hailed his partnership with Rohit Sharma as a learning experience beyond compare. He voiced his conviction that Gill was poised to become India’s next batting sensation for the foreseeable future, wishing him a phenomenal 2024 season.

“I am going with Shubman Gill. I think he had a very good three-quarters, nine-tenths of 2023. He must have learned so much from having the likes of Rohit Sharma on the other end. Maybe that illness towards the end just got him a little bit and his form dipped. He is a super talent and he is going to be the next sensation for India for years to come. Hopefully, he will have a good 2024,” Hussain said.

Having seen Ravindra bat on English soil prior to the World Cup, Hussain was left impressed. He lauded the young all-rounder’s seamless transition to the opening role during the global cricketing showpiece.

“And the man who lit the World Cup up was Rachin Ravindra. Going into the World Cup, I had seen him in England a bit. He came in at the Lord’s down the order and smashed it around. I thought he could play. When he was given a chance at the top of the order, he was a revelation. Hopefully, he can continue his progression,” Hussain said.

Whose comeback is Hussain looking forward to?

When asked about comeback players for 2024, Hussain championed two names. For India, his pick was Rishabh Pant. Tragically sidelined since a car accident on this very day in 2022, Hussain expressed hope that Pant would rediscover his pre-injury form and continue to enthrall fans as the “box office player” he is known for. For England, Ben Stokes, who had a somewhat lackluster 2023, received Hussain’s backing. The former captain believes in Stokes’s undeniable class and hopes for a stellar year from him in 2024.