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India's brightest young cricketer, Shubman Gill, has earned the nickname "Prince" because of his classy batting and consistent performances across all formats.
The nickname is a reference to his potential to become the next big batting sensation in Indian cricket, just as Virat Kohli was previously known as the "Prince" before becoming the "King."
Let's see why Gill is the heir to India's batting throne, along with his career statistics and some of his standout performances.
Gill's arousal was evident from the beginning. Being the captain of India U-19 in their 2018 World Cup title win, he made 372 runs at an average of 124, for which he won the Player of the Tournament award.
His technical acumen and strength against pace and spin impressed the seniors, and he was signed an IPL deal with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2018. He was wearing the Indian Test cap by 2020, drafted into history Border-Gavaskar series in Australia.
His 91 at the Gabba, an Australia fortress that had not lost in 32 years, went a long way in India's record chase of 328. The innings reaffirmed Gill's image as a big-stage performer, revealing him to be fearless.
Shubman Gill made his Test debut during Australia's 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, historic series, wherein his 91 off the fourth innings at Gabba was critical in India achieving the 328-run target to seal the series. Gill has since been part of India's Test team regularly.
Matches: 32
Runs: 1,893
Strike Rate: 59.92
Average: 35.05
Highest Score: 128
100s/50s: 5/7
Gill has been superb in ODIs, turning out to be one of India's most reliable openers. His ability to bat for extended periods and contribute runs whenever needed makes him a valuable asset.
Matches: 55
Runs: 2,775
Strike Rate: 99.56
Average: 59.04
Highest Score: 208
100s/50s: 8/15
He scored a double century against New Zealand (208 from 149 balls) in 2023 which earned him the title of the youngest batter to achieve an ODI double hundred (23 years).
While Gill found it difficult to make a mark in T20Is in the beginning, performances at the IPL forced selectors to give him more chances.
Matches: 21
Runs: 578
Average: 30.42
Highest Score: 126*
Strike Rate: 139.27
100s/50s: 1/03
Gill's pressure performances, in tests such as the Gabba Test and his ODI double-hundred, tell us about his big-match temperament.
Experts like Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid have showered accolades on his batting sense, while others like former cricketers Wasim Jaffer believe that he has it in him to become India's new batting legend. With the advantage of being young, Gill is already destined to make the "Prince" tag a reality and perhaps even claim the throne of Indian cricket in the years to come.
Shubman Gill's "Prince" nickname is no exaggeration. It's a recognition of his technical class, mental toughness, and capability to deal with expectations. Whether destroying attacks with grace or holding strong when under pressure, Gill conducts himself like a king-in-waiting.
