Cricket is not just another sport but a religion in India. A country of 1.4 billion people hero worship cricketers as Gods and celebrate every victory as a festival.
From Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli, India has been home to some of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the sport.
While Sunil Gavaskar was called the ‘Little Master’, Sachin Tendulkar is known as the ‘God of Cricket’.
On the other hand, former India captain Virat Kohli is widely regarded as the modern day ‘King of Cricket’.
With Kohli entering the twilight of his legendary career, Indians fans and experts are looking for their next big superstar who can be the perfect heir to Kohli.
So, the biggest question is who is the Prince of Cricket in India?
Who is the Prince of Cricket in India?
Young batter Shubman Gill is hailed as the Prince of Cricket in India. The Punjab-born cricketer was conferred the tag after his consistent batting performances across formats in international cricket.
Shubman Gill rose to fame in the 2018 edition of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, just like Kohli did at the same tournament in 2008.
Gill was adjudged the Player of the Series in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup after he finished as the second-highest run-getter in the marquee ICC tournament.
He scored 372 runs in six matches at a staggering average of 124 and an impressive strike rate of 112,38, including one hundred and three fifties to his name.
In January 2019, Gill received his maiden team India call-up for the limited-over series against New Zealand.
Gill later made his One Day International (ODI) debut in the fourth match of the series at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
In August 2019, Gill scripted history by becoming the youngest Indian batter to smash a double hundred in a First-Class match.
At the age of 19 years and 334 days, the right-handed batter slammed 204 runs for India A against West Indies A at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago.
Following his impressive showing at the First-Class level, Gill later made his Test debut against Australia in a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in 2020.
In January 2023, Gill made his T20 International debut against Sri Lanka.
Few days later on January 18, Gill became the fifth Indian batter to score a double century in ODI cricket and the youngest one to do so.
The opening batter continued his sensational form as he slammed his maiden T20I hundred against New Zealand on February 1.
He became the fifth Indian batter to register a hundred in all formats of international cricket.
With such consistent performances across formats, the Indian media has been constantly referring to Gill as the Prince of Indian cricket.
Previously, former India cricketer Salim Durani was hailed as Prince of Cricket in India. The Afghan-born cricketer was often called Shehzada (Prince) Salim of cricket.
Furthermore, former Indian cricketers including 2011 World Cup-winner Yuvraj Singh have touted Gill as the “New Prince of Indian Cricket.”
Another great innings by the new prince of Indian cricket !! @ShubmanGill 👏 GTvsmi #IPL2O23
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) May 26, 2023
Fans and experts will hope Gill can continue to win matches for India across formats to take over the huge mantle from Virat Kohli.
Photo credit: Alamy
