Striking it lucky

Sunny Kaul

He has impressed one and all with his free-flowing stroke play and consistency at the top of the innings and has rightly been awarded a place in the India U-19 World Cup squad that will play in New Zealand. But as they say, nothing comes easy in life. Shubman Gill, the 18-year-old right-handed batsman, had to go through his share of grind. In his journey to success, he was supported by his father Lakhwinder Singh, who devoted 15 years of his life to his son to see him don the India colours. “My father is my coach,” says a proud Shubman, and rightly so. It is the senior Gill, who takes care of all his coaching needs. 

Shubman, who is currently going through the rigours at pre-World Cup camp in Bengaluru, shares, “I normally play around 1,500 balls every day. It is my father who bowls to me in the nets and gives the throw downs.” His father Lakhwinder Singh, an agriculturalist and ardent cricket fan, left his native village in Fazilka and moved base to Mohali to provide a better platform to Shubman, when he was seven. “He is a gifted child. Watching a three-year-old reach out to the ball the way he did was something that caught my attention,” recalled Lakhwinder. “Initially, we had to face many difficulties when we shifted base to Mohali. They would not let us practice in the morning or evening at the MCA grounds, so we would have to make the necessary arrangements. I also drew criticism from my relatives. But all this did not take the focus away from the game,” he added. 

Asked what kind of demands the youngster made, the senior Gill replied: “His only demand is to get him the best cricketing gear.” All set to take part in Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Shubman says, “Adaptability is the key to success in New Zealand.”