Abu Dhabi T10 League:<\/b> Former South African cricketer Lance Klusener believes Indian cricket has the talent to move smoothly into its next era, backing Shubman Gill to lead the team for years while identifying young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a potential future superstar following the eventual departures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Klusener said Kohli and Rohit's stature should not prevent Indian cricket from embracing its next generation, stressing that the sport has repeatedly produced players capable of carrying forward the legacy of those who came before them. <\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former Proteas all-rounder, currently the head coach of the Arabian Aces in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, made the remarks while speaking to IANS on the sidelines of an event organised for the tournament, as Indian cricket continues to manage the transition from two of its most influential modern-day players.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAs good as Virat and as good as Rohit have been in the past, they will have to walk away from the game when their time comes. But the beauty of cricket is that it carries on. It gets stronger sometimes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen we played, people never thought that Sachin Tendulkar\u2019s records would ever be broken. And people are challenging those already. So, players come and go. It\u2019s a sad day when legends of your game and legends of your country step away. But on the bright side, there are always younger, fitter, faster players in the wings as well,\u201d Klusener told IANS.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former all-rounder described Gill as an \u201cabsolute superstar\u201d with the bat and said the young captain\u2019s next challenge would be to separate his responsibilities as a leader from his role as India\u2019s premier batter.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFor me personally, I\u2019m convinced already. I think he\u2019s the right man for the job. He\u2019s an absolute superstar with the bat. It\u2019s probably just being able to separate Shubman Gill as a batter and Shubman Gill as a captain as well. I think all the great captains have been able to separate that. And I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll have a lot of opportunities and a lot of people to lean on in helping him do that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut absolutely, I think he\u2019s as good as it gets with a cricket bat. And captaincy, even for old-established captains, you\u2019re learning all the time. He\u2019ll do the same. So, I\u2019m absolutely excited for him. I think he\u2019s a superstar. He\u2019s going to be someone who will serve India with great courage and great purpose for many years to come, hopefully,\u201d he opined.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gill\u2019s emergence as a leader comes as India prepares for life beyond Kohli and Rohit, who have shaped the country\u2019s cricketing fortunes for more than a decade. While their eventual retirements will leave a considerable void, Klusener believes the transition should be viewed as a natural part of the sport rather than a threat to India\u2019s competitiveness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He pointed to Sooryavanshi as evidence that another generation of Indian talent is already emerging.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a balance. Every team is different. Every nation works the retirement of players differently, and players retire every single season. India are facing that now with those two stars. South Africa have faced that with stars that they\u2019ve had as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut cricket goes on. Stars come and go, and legends retire, and people think that it\u2019ll never be the same again. But India doesn\u2019t have to look further than a youngster like Sooryavanshi. There\u2019s the next superstar,\u201d the former Afghanistan head coach stated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a balance. Every team is different. Every nation works the retirement of players differently, and players retire every single season. India are facing that now with those two stars. South Africa have faced that with stars that they\u2019ve had as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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