Gill is deemed as the next big thing in Indian cricket.
Shubman Gill’s stocks as a quality batsman have gone a notch above after India A’s recent tour to the Caribbean.
With 218 runs to his name from four innings at an average of 54.5, Gill was the highest run-getter for India ‘A’ in the unofficial one-day series while he registered the scores of 40, 0 and 204 not out in three innings that he played in the unofficial Test series.
The double ton in Trinidad made Gill the youngest to score a first-class double century for an Indian representative team. No wonder, his non-selection in India’s senior team for the ongoing West Indies tour left a lot of cricket fans and experts disappointed.
The stylish right-hander might be deemed as the next big thing in Indian cricket, but he isn’t bogged down by the weight of expectations.
“Whenever I go out to play, things like pressure and expectations never come to my head,” Gill told The Times of India. “The thing that comes to my head are ‘how am I going to score runs on this wicket and how I am going to tackle these bowlers’.”
Talking about his record-breaking double century against West Indies ‘A’, the 19-year-old said: “That innings was a huge confidence booster and it was pending because in the one-dayers I was getting out in 70s and 80s. I played four matches and got three fifties (62, 77, 69). In the second four-day game, I got out off the first ball in the first innings. Then, I told myself that if I get a chance to bat again I have to bring up a big knock.”
“It was the perfect opportunity because we were 14 for 3. I started getting runs and it was important to carry on with that momentum and not get carried away and lose my wicket,” he continued.
After the highs of Caribbean tour, Shubman Gill is all set for his next assignment which is to lead India Blue in Duleep Trophy, starting on Saturday (August 17).
“As a captain it is important for me to make sure that players are switched on so that they don’t think of personal goals all the time. If we are going to win these matches and get to the final you get one more opportunity to perform,” he concluded.