Shubman Gill aspires to play under Virat Kohli in the near future

The India U19 team etched history by winning the junior World Cup for a record fourth time, and they did so in style. The Boys in Blue, led by the talismanic Prithvi Shaw won the coveted title without losing a single game on the road. With extremely high stakes, both Shaw and vice-captain Shubman Gill were keen to not let this opportunity go.

And the Indian colts outclassed Australia in the high-octane summit clash as they cruised to victory. A pivotal cog of the squad, Gill was the most prolific and successful Indian batsman this tournament. The 19-year-old right-hander who played a pivotal role in the squad struck three fifties and a hundred to end as the ‘Player of the Tournament.’ In the semi-final fixture too, the No.3 played a key role by scoring a clinical century against Pakistan. His unbeaten knock of 102 paved the way for India’s victory.

Following his return with all the accolades, Gill in an interview with Hindustan Times spoke of his ambitions for the game. When quizzed whom he looks up to, the dynamic youngster named Virat Kohli. He also revealed that he aspires to play under the India skipper in the near future.

The youngster said, “He is my idol. I think cricketers of this generation really look up to him and want to be like him. I too emulate him for his skills and fitness. I have a long way to go and I should not be compared to him. It would be great to play with him one day.”

A new chapter in Gill’s career

While the journey to stardom has just started for the 18-year-old, the next Indian Premier League (IPL) season with Kolkata Knight Riders is another chapter he is keenly looking forward to.

With a base price of 20 lakhs, India’s latest batting sensation was picked almost 10 times his base prices for a whopping 1.8 crores by the KKR franchise. After having U19 medium-pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti in their kitty, KKR added another promising talent in Gill.