Is Shubman Gill the future of Indian Cricket

Some batsmen are cut out to play limited overs cricket – they like to play freely and prefer to have things moving at a quick pace, while others fancy Test Cricket – they like to get stuck in and bat for long hours with unwavering concentration. And then some are equally comfortable across the formats of the game. One such batsman in the current generation is Shubman Gill – no matter what the format or the conditions, the young Indian opener looks at peace whenever he is on the crease.

With the ability to play every shot in the book, watching Shubman Gill bat is an exciting affair. Talking of excitement, if you want to take the thrill of watching cricket to the next level, visit Betindia. In this article, let’s take a look at Shubman Gill’s journey over the years.

Early Childhood

Shubman Gill hails from Chak Khere Wala – a small village in Fazilka district, close to the India-Pakistan border. His father, Lakhwinder Singh, had once dreamt of playing the sport as a professional. However, due to a lack of opportunities, he had to forgo his dreams. He was the first person who saw the spark in young Shubman. The family moved to Mohali and enrolled Shubman in a cricket training academy. It didn’t take Shubman long to prove that the decision was right – he made 351 in Punjab’s Inter-District U16 tournament in 2014 and then went on to score a double hundred on his U16 debut for Punjab.

List A and Under 19

Gill made his List A debut on 25th February 2017 against Vidarbha. He batted one-down, but couldn’t impress much as he got run out for 11. However, he made his first-class debut (against Bengal) count – made a fighting 63 batting as an opener and was the top scorer for Punjab in the first innings. He followed it up with a maiden 100 against Services.

Gill’s consistently good performances earned him a place in India’s U19 World Cup squad. He not only was the highest scorer for his team in the tournament but also played an integral part in helping India clinch its fourth title victory. His exploits earned him the Player of the Tournament Award.

IPL and International Debut

In 2018, Gill was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for 1.8 crores. He had a decent season, scoring a total of 203 runs at an average of 33.83. He made his debut for India at the international level the next year – in an ODI against New Zealand at Hamilton. The year also saw KKR promote him to the top of the order. The move helped him come into his own and perform better. Seeing the potential, Gill was drafted into India’s red-ball team for the series Down Under in 2020. He scored an impressive 45 playing as an opener in his very first innings, that too, against the likes of Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc. One of the highlights of the tour was Gill’s 91 score in the Gabba Test, which India famously went on to win.

International Success

The next 2-3 years saw Gill bettering his performances with each passing day and establishing himself as a regular in the Indian playing XI. 2023 stood out to be a special year for Gill. He made his international T20 debut and went on to score a hundred in just his sixth game. The feat earned him a place in the list of some esteemed cricketers who have a hundred in each of the formats. With 890 runs, he was also the leading run scorer in the IPL that year. He played a significant role at the top of the order in helping Gujarat Titans make it to their second consecutive IPL final in a row.

Strengths

Below are some of the reasons that have helped Gill reach this far:

Batting Style & Technique: Gill’s batting style is flexible. He is adept at playing according to the format and the situation. He has all the shots in the book and is good against both pace and spin.

Mental Toughness: Gill has a very cool head on his shoulders. He doesn’t get bogged down by the situation. He plays according to his strengths and waits for the opposition to commit a mistake.

Handling Expectations: Gill knows how to handle expectations. He keeps a low profile and doesn’t let success get to his head. He is a grounded person by nature.

Fitness and Endurance: Gill knows the importance of fitness and works hard on it. He is one of the fittest cricketers around. Be it the field or the gym, he never minds putting in the extra yards.

Future Prospects

With Hardik Pandya moving back to Mumbai, Gill has been entrusted with the reins of handling the captaincy of Gujarat Titans for the 2024 season. It’s a big opportunity that will give him a chance to prove his leadership skills. With some of the seniors in the Indian team in their late 30s, it won’t be long before Gill becomes the mainstay of the Indian batting.

Conclusion

There’s no doubt that Gill has achieved a lot in a very short time, and thanks to it, has a lot of good opportunities waiting for him. Be it batting or captaincy, he is looked upon as someone who has the potential to take on bigger responsibilities and contribute a lot more. How he handles these responsibilities will determine if he has it in him to sustain in the longer run and go on to become one of the greats of Indian cricket.