Shubman Gill: 10 Lesser-Known Facts About the “Prince of Cricket

Shubman Gill, a talented right-handed top-order batsman hailing from Punjab, has garnered attention for his ability to score big runs, earning him a place in India’s Under-19 squad as the vice-captain for the 2018 World Cup. Prior to that, he marked his first-class debut for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy in late 2017 with an aggressive 129 and a half-century.

Dubbed the “Prince of Cricket,” Shubman Gill is seen as the next big thing in Indian cricket, touted as the successor to the legendary Virat Kohli in the next era of Indian cricket. He holds the distinction of being the youngest batsman in ODI history to achieve a double century. Additionally, his batting prowess played a crucial role in guiding the Gujarat Titans to the 2022 IPL finals and the 2023 IPL finals, even though they couldn’t secure victory.

Here are ten lesser-known facts about Shubman Gill that reveal more about the rising cricket star:

1. Punjabi Roots: Shubman Gill was born on September 8th in Fazilka, Punjab. Despite his father being a farmer, they relocated to Mohali, nearer to the I.S. Bindra Stadium, to provide him with better training opportunities. He began playing cricket at the tender age of three.
2. Idols and Bromance: Like many young cricketers, Shubman idolized the cricketing legends, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, especially given their Punjabi background. His camaraderie with Virat Kohli is evident on the field when they play together. Sachin Tendulkar remains his all-time favorite cricketer.
3. Superstitions: Shubman Gill has his superstition too. During matches, he always wears a red handkerchief, a practice that began during an Under-16 match when he scored a century, and he has continued it ever since.
4. Domestic Debut: In the 2016-17 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Shubman made his List A debut for Punjab against Vidarbha. He followed it up with his first-class debut for Punjab in the 2017 Ranji Trophy, where he notched up his maiden century against Bengal.
5. Domestic Excellence: Shubman boasts an impressive domestic record, having played 44 first-class matches, amassing 3469 runs at an average of 51.01, including 10 centuries and 16 fifties. In List-A cricket, he has featured in 79 matches, scoring 3575 runs at an average of 52.57, with 10 hundreds and 16 fifties.
6. U-19 World Cup Star: Shubman Gill was the standout player in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, earning the Player of the Tournament award. He was also the leading run-scorer for his team, amassing 372 runs in five innings with three fifties and a century.
7. Remarkable Youth ODI Record: Gill’s youth ODI record is exceptional, having played 15 innings, scoring four hundred and six fifties. With an astounding average of 104.45, he holds the unique distinction of being the only youth ODI batsman with an average above 100.
8. Rapid Rise to International Cricket: Shubman Gill made his international debut for India in 2019 against New Zealand. He made his Test debut during the historic series against Australia, and his T20I debut came against Sri Lanka. He is the second-fastest player in ODI history to reach 1000 runs, achieving the milestone in just 19 innings.
9. IPL Auction Success: Following his outstanding performance in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, Shubman Gill was picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 1.8 crore, nine times his base price of 20 lakhs. Later, he was acquired by the newly-formed Gujarat Titans for INR 8 crore in the super auction.
10. IPL Success Story: Shubman Gill’s IPL journey began in 2018, and over the years, he gradually established himself as a prominent batsman. His batting position became stable when he opened for KKR in IPL 2021, scoring 478 runs as they reached the finals. He continued his remarkable form with the Gujarat Titans, amassing 1373 runs and three centuries in just two editions.

In conclusion, Shubman Gill’s incredible talent, passion for the game, and impressive achievements make him a cricketer to watch out for in the future, as he continues to make his mark in both domestic and international cricket.