King vs Prince: Will Shubman Gill overtake Virat Kohli this Asia Cup?

Since the start of 2020, Virat Kohli has piled up more than 6,100 international runs across formats. Spread over 173 innings, his tally includes 12 centuries and 42 fifties, keeping him on top of India’s combined batting charts. Even after questions about his form in recent years, the numbers prove Kohli remains India’s most prolific run-getter of this decade so far.

Shubman Gill Closing the Gap Fast

Right behind Kohli stands Shubman Gill, with a tally of 6,004 runs since 2020 (before India vs Pak in Asia Cup). The key detail? Gill has played 29 fewer innings than Kohli. That means he’s scoring at a far quicker clip, and at his current rate he is expected to overtake Kohli as India’s leading run-scorer of the decade during the Asia Cup itself.

Gill’s Superior Average and Conversion Rate

While Kohli’s average this decade has been around 40, Gill has maintained a stronger average of 47. This not only highlights his consistency but also shows his ability to convert starts into match-winning knocks. In the list of Top 10 run-scorers of the 2020s, Gill sits 6th overall, yet only Joe Root (average 52) boasts a better batting average.

Global Context: Where Kohli and Gill Stand

Globally, Kohli remains among the top five run-scorers of the 2020s, continuing to underline his status as a modern great. But Gill’s surge is what excites Indian fans. To be in the same conversation as Root, Babar Azam, and Kohli himself shows just how quickly Gill has adapted to international cricket across formats.

Has the Baton Already Passed?

For over a decade, Kohli has been the undisputed face of Indian batting. But the rise of Gill has sparked debate: is the baton already in his hands? If he overtakes Kohli this Asia Cup, it will be more than a statistic; it will signal a new era in Indian cricket, where the “Prince” becomes the new King of runs.

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