Cometh the hour, cometh Shubman

Gaurav Joshi

Christchurch, January 30

Remember the name Shubman Gill — it’s likely that you’re going to hear it a lot in the future.

As the announcer at the Hagley Oval today read out the names of the Indian team, a fan turned around and asked his friend: “Bhai ye Gill kaun hai? Who’s this Gill?” Six hours later, the pair was leaning over the picket fence and posing for a selfie with Gill, the new star of Indian cricket. Gill’s century played a big part in taking India to the final of the Under-19 World Cup with a massive 203-run win over Pakistan in the semifinals.

Through to the final

Apart from captain Prithvi Shaw, the extremely ‘patriotic’ expat fans of the team here were not familiar with the names of the Indian players. But in a span of merely two hours, Gill become the crowd favourite. The fans even had a chant for him — shouts of ‘Lagao Gill bhai lagao! (Strike the ball!)’ echoed around the ground as the India No. 3 scored a masterful 102 not out.

Good start

After losing the toss, Pakistan’s fielders dropped two straightforward chances in the first 10 overs as Shaw and Manjot Kalra added 89 in 15 overs. The run-out of Shaw (41) caused a minor collapse as India lost wickets regularly and slipped to 166/5 in the 33rd over. It seemed that India would be restricted to around 225 runs.

But Gill had other ideas — he took on the Pakistani bowling with an inspired century that had glorious strokeplay and deft touches. The best aspect of Gill’s innings was the way he rallied the lower-order batsmen and took calculated risks at just the right time to finish with an unbeaten 102 off 94 balls with seven fours.

Dramatic 100

The innings ended on a dramatic note, Gill needing one run off the last ball to reach 100. The youngster smashed the ball high but straight to the man at long-off, only to see Pakistan skipper Hasan Khan spill the catch. As Khan watched in frustration, Gill celebrated joyously in front of the vocal Indian fans.

Pak in trouble

Chasing 273 to win, Pakistan’s innings got off to a horrible start with lanky paceman Ishan Porel knocking over the top four batsmen in a stunning six-over spell that read 6-2-17-4. In contrast to the Pakistani fielding, the Indian fielders were outstanding, taking sharp catches to put Pakistan under extreme pressure. Pakistan were never in the hunt, down to 28/4 and then 48/8 before collapsing at 69, their lowest-ever total in the U-19 World Cup.

‘Special 100’

Gill, named the Man of the Match, rated his hundred as the most important innings of his career. “This hundred is really special,” he said. “There was pressure and nerves going into this match because it was against Pakistan. I didn’t think much, wanted to play according to the merit of the ball.”

What was he thinking when he hit the ball high when on 99, on the last delivery of the innings? “I think there was not too much going in my mind,” he said. “I was just playing on merit, just thinking that not too many batsmen are left... I was just thinking one ball at a time.”

Aussies ahead

India will meet Australia in the final in Mount Maunganui on Saturday. India had thrashed Australia by 100 runs in their group stage match on January 17, but the final would be a bigger, high-pressure game. But one thing is certain — no one would be asking who this Gill boy is.

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‘As talented as Yuvi’

"The more he (Shubman) plays quality bowling, the more he will improve. He will play in different conditions, go through phases where he would know how to score runs in difficult conditions. But make no mistake, I have seen 18-year-old Yuvraj Singh from close quarters, Shubman is as talented as Yuvraj" — Harbhajan Singh

"Congratulations to India U-19 boys for making it to the finals and to Shubman Gill on a special ton!" — Yuvraj Singh

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Gill says 

On his ton 

This hundred is really special. There was pressure and nerves going into this match because it was against Pakistan. I didn’t think much, I just wanted to play according to the merit of the ball 

hitting a lofted shot at 99

 It didn’t matter if I got out on 99. I was just thinking that I’ll try and hit a four or a six. The intent was good, and I think god smiled at me because of that — it turned out to be a no-ball!

Red handkerchief, a superstition?  

I used to have a white one. But then in one game, an U-16 match, I changed it to red and scored runs, I scored a century. After that, I have had it for 3-4 years

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