A 22-year-old from Punjab, Shubman Gill is an Indian cricketer who plays for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In Friday’s match, Gill missed a century by four runs after scoring 96 runs in 59 deliveries. 

Early life

Gill was born on September 8, 1999, in Chak Khere wala, a village situated near Jalalabad, Fazilka district. 

His father, Lakhwinder Singh was a farmer. After witnessing Gill’s love for cricket, Singh set up a cricket ground on a small farm to help his son hone his cricketing skills.

A few years down the line, the father-son duo moved to Mohali in a house located near the PCA stadium in order to help Gill become a professional cricketer. 

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“He only played cricket since he was three years old. Kids of that age would play with toys. He never asked for such things. It was only bat and ball for him. He used to sleep with a bat and ball”, Gill’s father said.

Cricket beginnings

Gill made his List A debut for Punjab on February 25, 2017, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Vidharbha team. The same year, he made his first-class debut for the state in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy. 

In November 2017, Gill scored his maiden century against Bengal team.

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Fast forward to 2018, the 22-year-old was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs. 1.8 crore in the IPL auction. On 14 April 2018, Gill made his Twenty20 debut for KKR in the IPL.

By January 1, 2019, Gill had hit 990 runs in first-class cricket from 14 innings in eight matches. A week later, he scored his 1,000th run.

For IPL 2022, Gill quit KKR and was bought by Gujarat Titans, a newly formed franchise.