Touted to emerge as the future of Indian cricket, Shubman Gill has already started grabbing the headlines by his performances in the domestic circuit. The 20-year-old, who has showcased his potential in the Indian Premier League (IPL) too, received his maiden national call-up in January.
However, it was not a start that Gill would have hoped for. The youngster could only rack up 9 and 7 in the fourth and fifth ODIs against New Zealand. He was also successful in earning his maiden Test call-up for the home series against South Africa after KL Rahul was dropped from the side.
Gill has amassed 1535 runs in 15 matches in his first-class career at an impressive average of 69.8. The youngster also went on to smash four centuries and nine half-centuries in first-class cricket. In a recent interview, the right-hander picked Brazil’s Neymar and South Africa’s AB de Villiers as his favorite sportspersons outside cricket and best non-Indian cricketer respectively.
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Talking to ESPNCricinfo, Gill revealed the preferred sportsman outside cricket, “Yeah, many. I like Neymar Jr a lot,” ESPN Cricinfo quoted Gill as saying when he was asked about his preferred sportsman outside cricket. When Gill was asked to choose the best non-Indian cricketer with whom he has played with or against, he picked AB de Villiers.
Gill scripted another record to his name by smashing a double century in the third unofficial Test against West Indies A. At the age of 19 years and 334 days, he became the youngest batsman to score a double century. Gill broke the record of Gautam Gambhir, who had scored 218 for India Board President’s XI against Zimbabwe in 2002 at the age of 20 years and 124 days.
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Adding yet another feather to his illustrious cap, Gill recently re-wrote the history books by leading the Punjab team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He surpassed current Indian skipper Virat Kohli after the 20-year-old became the youngest-known captain to lead a side in the finals of Deodhar Trophy. Kohli had captained North Zone in the final back in the 2009-10 season at the age of 21.