Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt has applauded India’s 22-year-old opener Shubman Gill. While speaking about the Test match between India and New Zealand on his YouTube channel, Butt stated that he enjoys watching the youngster bat. He also expressed how the talented youngster is technically very sound as he is strong both off the front foot and the back foot as well.

He also added he was quite impressed with Gill’s exploits with the bat in the World Test Championship Final against New Zealand earlier this year. He even praised the right-hander for his gutsy knock of 91 at the Gabba against Australia as well.

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Here’s what he said: “I really like Shubman Gill. Not that Mayank Agarwal is not a good player, but for me, Shubman Gill takes the lead. He plays beautifully and is technically very sound. The way he played in the World Test Championship and in Australia was brilliant,”

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While Team India have been taking on the Kiwis in the first Test match of their series which started on Thursday, the India A side is currently playing against South Africa A. Another Indian youngster Prithvi Shaw has scored well there and while speaking about Prithvi Shaw’s quick-fire knock of 48 in the game, Salman Butt claimed that the 22-year old right-handed batsman needs to play a big innings for his team. And, if he can manage to do that, he might return to the national team as well.