Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill has long been viewed as the next jewel in India’s batting crown. His rise began at the 2018 ICC U19 World Cup, where he stood out as India’s most reliable run-getter. Batting at No. 3, Gill amassed 418 runs at an average of 104.50, playing a pivotal role in India’s record fourth title triumph. Named the Player of the Tournament, he became one of the most sought-after names in the IPL auction and was snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 1.8 crore.

Born in Fazilka, Punjab, Gill's precocious talents found an early fan in his father, Lakhwinder Singh, who shifted base to Mohali and rented a place near the PCA Stadium so that his son could grow up with better access to cricket. And it wasn't long until Gill started grabbing headlines. He scored 351 in Punjab's Inter-District U16 tournament in 2014, racking up an opening stand of 587 with Nirmal Singh, and then went on to strike a double hundred in his U16 debut for Punjab at the 2016 Vijay Merchant Trophy.

Gill made his List A debut for Punjab in the 2016-17 Vijay Hazare Trophy, batting one-down, and went on to make his first-class debut in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy against Bengal, where he batted as an opener to score his maiden half-century and stepped it up in just the next game with a maiden hundred against Services.