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ICC U-19 World Cup: Centurion Shubman Gill recalls how Pakistan's extreme sledging spurred him on

Shubman Gill's unbeaten 102 helped sink Pakistan in the semi-final of the ICC Under-19 World Cup. The 18-year-old reveals how the Pakistanis sledged him relentlessly that day.

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Shubman Gill exults after scoring a century in the 2018 ICC World Cup semi-final against Pakistan
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At the recently-concluded ICC Under-19 World Cup, India inflicted a defeat on Pakistan that will be difficult for the arch rivals to forget.

After posting a competitive 272, India bowled out Pakistan for a stunning 69 in the marquee semi-final clash at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

The star of the show, of course, was Shubman Gill. The Punjab lad set up the win for India with a 94-ball unbeaten 102. Gill blasted seven fours in his blistering knock under considerable pressure.

 

Gill, however, has revealed that his innings was harder than it looked from the outside. Not necessarily because of the quality of the opposition, but due to the constant sledging by the Pakistani players.

The 18-year-old revealed that the Pakistani boys upped their sledging game as the match went on. And although it didn't bother him initially, they did get under his skin went the banter increased.

"At the start, they were sledging a little which was all right. I expect opponents to sledge a little so I wasn't too bothered by it. But after we lost a few wickets, they started sledging too much which was frustrating for me. That's why I celebrated like that," Gill was quoted as saying by TNN.

Well, we're grateful for the Pakistanis for sledging Gill that day. It surely brought out the best in him!

Shubman reveals Yuvraj's guidance

India's Under-19 World Cup hero Shubman Gill on Monday said senior pro and veteran batsman Yuvraj Singh guided him and gave him batting tips in the past.

"Yuvi paaji (Yuvraj Singh) gave a lot of guidance when he was at the NCA (National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru). He told me things about on and off the field, he gave me tips and batted along with me," Gill, who slammed an unbeaten 102 in the semifinal against Pakistan in the U-19 World Cup, said.

 

The 18-year-old right handed batsman struck three fifties and a hundred in the U-19 World Cup, which India won for the record fourth time after thrashing Australia by eight wickets in the final on Saturday. Speaking about the knock against Pakistan, Gill said coach Rahul Dravid advised him to play till the end.

"There was pressure for the game against Pakistan. Our openers gave a good start and it was going well in the middle. We lost some wickets and Rahul (Dravid) sir advised me to bat till the end and the partnership with Anukul (Roy) was good," said the Punjab batsman who was adjudged the player of the tournament.

Gill was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for the upcoming IPL but he said the focus was on the World Cup while the auction was being held in India last week. "We were tired as we had finished the match against Bangladesh a day before (the auction). I woke up and got to know that I was picked by KKR. At that time I did not think about the IPL and the focus was on the World Cup," said Gill, who plays for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy.

 

Gill said the preparations were such that they were ready to play even on "worst wickets". "The preparation was good and we were prepared for the worst wickets. After we defeated Australia in the first match, we thought our chances were there (to win the title)," the attacking batsman said.

He said that the pressure of playing in Ranji Trophy was different from that in the World Cup. "The pressure in World Cup is different from that in Ranji (Trophy). In Ranji, you have to be patient and in the World Cup, you have to be fast. The pressure level in the World Cup (is more) as the (games) are televised," Gill signed off.

(Inputs from PTI)

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