ICC U-19 World Cup 2018: Shubman Gill Reveals his 'Lucky Charm'

The Indian Under-19 team has reached the final of the World Cup, and one of their best players has been their middle-order batsman, Shubman Gill who has been in outstanding form and almost single-handedly won the semi-final match for India against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Gill scored an unbeaten century in the semi-final clash against Pakistan to guide India to the final of the tournament. 

Gill had scored 341 runs in four innings at an average of 170. The right-handed batsman who hails from Punjab is one of the most promising batsmen in youth cricket.

Indian fans have a lot of hopes lying on Gill’s shoulders going into the final of the World Cup. Both India and Australia have been the two of the most successful teams at the Under-19 level since the tournament began in 1988.

Australia won the inaugural tournament in 1988 on their home soil. Australia then went on to win it in 2002 and 2010.

India, on the other hand, had won the tournament thrice; in 2000, 2008 and 2012.

However, coming into the final of the tournament Gill has revealed the red handkerchief on his waist as his lucky charm. Gill said,

“I’ve had it from the beginning. I used to have a white one. But then in one game, a U-16 match, I changed it to red and scored runs, I scored a century. After that, I have had it for three-four years.”  

One of the greatest batsmen and captain ever to have played the game, Steve Waugh also had a similar lucky charm. Waugh kept a red cloth in his pocket while batting.

The practice began in Leeds in England 1993 when he used it to wipe away sweat while batting. Waugh went on to score 157 in that innings and then supported the regime until his retirement in 2004.

Here’s the news feed –

Unmukt Chand Says Every Under-19 cricketer’s story is not like Virat Kohli

Shubman Gill to Finish Youth ODI career with 100 plus average