U-19 star Shubman Gill hits maiden first-class double-century

Gill’s 328-ball 268 on Sunday, 16 December, was laced with 29 fours and four sixes, and it was the highest score of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2018-19 season. It helped his Punjab side post 479 in the first innings of their clash against Tamil Nadu.

The innings was typical of the form Gill displayed during the ICC U19 CWC earlier this year, when he scored 372 runs in five innings at a stunning average of 124.

Gill was playing just his sixth first-class match for Punjab. After Tamil Nadu, led by Dinesh Karthik, posted 215 in their first innings, Gill opened the Punjab innings with Jiwanjot Singh early on the second morning.

He ended the day on 199, and notched up his double-century first thing on the third morning. He went on to add 69 further runs in the first session, before eventually being dismissed with his team’s total at 469.

Typically, Gill remained grounded. “I am hitting the ball well and it’s a good phase. There are still some matches to be played this season and my aim is to score heavily in them,” he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

“It was an important knock as a big innings was due from me. We wanted to make sure that we have a big first-innings lead and my focus was to bat normally.

“I did not think about a triple-hundred but my aim was to play according to the (merit of the) ball.”