Meet the Don Bradman of Under-19 cricket

The India U19 team is currently on a roll after the three-time champions registered a comprehensive 10-wicket win over an ill-equipped Zimbabwe earlier today. India, who had already sealed a quarter-final spot in the World Cup with back-to-back wins against Australia and Papua New Guinea in the group stage, produced another professional performance to end the league stage unbeaten.

18-year-old Shubman Gill who was later adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ played a blinder of an innings ending 90 not out off 59 deliveries. Born just before the turn of the millennium, Gill is one of the brightest prospects in the current U19 setup.

However, the Punjab lad didn’t enjoy a smooth start to his career after he missed out on three straight away opportunities of making a mark on his very first Under-19 England tour. After scoring 29 and 25 in the first Youth ‘Test’ in Chesterfield, he was out for only 18 runs in the first innings of the second game in Worcester. Known for his fluid stroke-play in the junior circuit, Shubman – for some reason – was holding himself back from playing his natural game. ‘Overthink’ is the word that he uses to describe his first three failures.

Eclipsing every obstacle, the youngster testified that he has everything needed to succeed at the highest level. His breakthrough performance came during the India under-19 tour of England in early 2017, when he scored twin centuries in the ODI leg, helping India whitewash England 5-0 in the series.

Shubman made his first-class debut for Punjab in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy and went on to score a brilliant century in only his second match, against Services. He is a compact batsman with a solid technique and has the ability to grind it out for long hours.

The youngster, who has a reputation for his fluid gameplay and boasts of a rich repertoire of strokes averages at over 100, precisely a scintillating 103.91 from the last 12 innings that he played. With such statistics, he transcends the likes of Don Bradman who owns the record books with the highest ever average of 99.94 in international cricket.

Albeit it’s just 12 matches, the Indian prodigy is a lynchpin in the batting lineup, and if properly groomed, could evolve into one of the finest cricketers of his generation.

Here is Gill’s performance thus far in Youth ODI cricket: