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Sunny Kaul
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 12
A grind of more than a decade and a bagful of runs has helped the young Shubman Gill break into the Indian Test squad. The Punjab cricketer, who turned 20 four days ago, received a belated but deeply cherished birthday gift when he was named in the 15-member India squad for the three-match Test series against South Africa. “It’s always an honour to represent my country,” Gill commented on his Twitter page after his selection.
The budding cricketer was awarded for his consistency and his ability to adapt to batting at different positions. “We look at him as an opener as well as middle-order batsman. We are looking at him as back-up for both the slots. As he keeps playing more and more, he will get his opportunities, because he is a player for all three formats,” pointed out selection committee chief MSK Prasad.
Prasad said that the selectors want to give Rohit Sharma an opportunity to open for India, instead of the axed KL Rahul, so Gill might have to wait before he actually gets into the playing XI.
Risen through ranks
Gill’s penchant for scoring big runs in testing times sets him apart from his peers. He has gained rapid recognition as a formidable batsman over the last few years. Gill left his ancestral home in Fazilka as a seven-year-old, along with his father and coach Lakhwinder Singh, in 2007-08 to make use of the infrastructure available in Mohali. Today, when Gill Sr was asked about his son’s journey, he said: “I’m thankful to God.”
Gill rose through the ranks after breaking into the scene with a double-hundred on his U-16 debut for Punjab in the 2013-14 Vijay Hazare Trophy season. He scored 734 runs at an average of 73.4 in seven matches and was awarded the MA Chidambaram Trophy for the Best U-16 cricketer.
In 2014-15, Gill led Punjab to the Vijay Hazare triumph with a staggering 1,018 runs at an average of 92.54 from seven matches and was named the Best U-16 cricketer for the second time in a row. He also smashed 351 runs in Punjab’s inter-district U-16 tournament in 2014 and shared a record opening stand of 587 with Nirmal Singh.
Career high point
Gill made his First-Class debut for Punjab in 2017 and has accumulated 1,443 FC runs at an average of 72.15 with four hundreds and eight fifties. The highest point in his short but famed career, however, came during the U-19 ICC World Cup in New Zealand last year, where he almost single-handedly guided India to the title. He scored 418 runs at an average of 104.50 in the tournament, including an unbeaten 102 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the semis.
After the U-19 World Cup glory, Gill was handed an IPL contract worth Rs 1.8 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders and earlier this year, the talented right-hander got his maiden India call-up for the ODI series in New Zealand.
He could not do justice to his talent in the two matches he played on the New Zealand tour and was not picked up for India’s World Cup squad and the West Indies tour. However, he was not disheartened.
Record breaker
Playing for India A, Gill made a solid 204 not out against hosts West India A to break Gautam Gambhir’s record of being the youngest Indian cricketer to score a First-Class double century.
“It has been a rapid progression because he has been scoring rapid runs,” Punjab coach Munish Bali said when asked about Gill’s rapid rise. “He’s scoring in all formats and it was only matter of time before he was inducted into the Indian Test squad. I am really happy for him and for his family. He has worked really hard and has rightfully earned a place in the squad.”
“The longer format will provide him a chance to express himself as he will spend more time in the middle,” Bali added.