India’s wall, hoping to stand tall

MUMBAI: Shubman Gill’s 18-yearold shoulders are burdened with huge expectations. Just look at the stars the ICC Under-19 Cricket Worlds Cups have produced for India.

Yuvraj Singh (2000); Mohammed Kaif (2000); Shikhar Dhawan (2004); and Virat Kohli (2008): here are the men in whose footsteps Gill will be walking. The right-handed batsman has been in cracking form throughout the tournament in New Zealand.

He made 63 against Australia, 90* against Zimbabwe and 86 against Bangladesh in the quarters. On Tuesday, he came up with another outstanding performance, scoring an unbeaten hundred to fashion India’s 203-

Format FC

LISTA U-19

M 2 7 15

Runs 245 247 1118

AVG 61.25 35.28 111.80 run victory over Pakistan in the second semi-final at Hagley Oval.

Gill has 341 runs in five matches at an average of 170.50 and a strike rate of 113.28 in the World Cup. Only West Indian Alick Athanaze, with 418 runs from six matches, has more. The

Punjab lad will look to continue his hot streak and help India lift the coveted trophy for the fourth time vs Australia. Date of birth: September 8, 1999

State: Punjab

Batting style: right-hand bat

Bowling style: right-arm offbreak

H.S 129 121 160

Wkts 0

0

3

AVG -

- 21.66

Best 0

0 2/9