Mumbai: India's U-19 World Cup hero Shubman
Gill today 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.
PTI
