Shubman Gill did not have the kind of international debut he would have expected. India were bowled out for 92, their second lowest ODI total against New Zealand and the hosts chased down the paltry total with 212 balls to spare.
With Virat Kohli rested for the final two ODIs and MS Dhoni missing out again due to injury, Gill got his maiden international cap with the senior men’s team a year and a day after his sensational hundred against Pakistan in the semifinal of the Under-19 World Cup.
The 19 year-old walked out to bat after India had lost the wicket of left-handed opening batsman, Shikhar Dhawan. The ball was swinging and Trent Boult was on fire.
But for 21 balls, Gill showed he belong to the big stage. He played a few good looking shots and held his own against a dangerous bowling attack in conditions which aided swing.
However, there was one moment in the match apart from the delivery he got out to, where Gill did not look comfortable. It was a nasty bouncer from lightning Boult that hit Gill straight on the helmet in the 10th over of the Indian innings.
The extra pace and bounce surprised Gill, he clearly was late on the pull shot. The ball rattled the youngster and was assisted by Indian physiotherapist Patrik Farhart before he resumed batting.
Boult was prompt enough to check on the teenager after vicious bouncer.
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In the next over, Boult got the better of Gill with a full length delivery. The right-hander played it on the up and ended up scooping it straight back to the bowler, who accepted the return catch gleefully.
