Shubman Gill has big expectations to carry on his 18-year-old shoulders. Over the years, the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cups have given the Indian cricket team a number of stars. Virat Kohli (2008), Yuvraj Singh (2000), Mohammed Kaif (2000), Shikhar Dhawan (2004) – these are some of the prominent names who rose to contention for the senior team through their sterling performances in the tournament.

From what has been witnessed so far in the ongoing ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, India seem to have unearthed another future star in Shubman Gill. The right-handed batsman has been in a stupendous throughout the tournament, scoring 63 against Australia, 90* against Zimbabwe and 86 against Bangladesh in the quarters.

On Tuesday, he came up with another outstanding performance, scoring an unbeaten hundred to fashion India’s massive 203-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the second semi-final at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Coming out to bat after India lost their first wicket in the form of captain Prithvi Shaw, at the score of 89 in the 16th over, Shubman batted right through the end en route to a stroke-filled 94-ball 102.

What was remarkable about his innings was the way he ran between the wickets, stealing singles and twos with leopard-like agility. It was the reason he managed to have a strike rate of over 108.51 despite hitting only seven boundaries during his vigil in the middle.

Riding on his knock, India posted 272/9, a total that proved too much for Pakistan. In their chase, Pakistan were bowled out for a paltry 69 in 29.3 overs. The quality of Gill’s knock can be gauged from the fact that barring him, no other batsman from either side managed to cross 50 on this pitch.

“I rate this innings very highly as it was against Pakistan. The pitch was on the slower side and it was not easy for strokeplay. I am happy to have got the Man of the Match award,” the 18-year-old said after the match.

Gill has been the India U-19 team’s most consistent batsman throughout this event. He has now 341 runs from five matches at an astonishing average of 170.50 and an equally impressive strike rate of 113.28 in the tournament. West Indian batsman Alick Athanaze, with a tally of 418 runs from six matches, is the only batsman ahead of him in the list of the highest run getters in the tournament.

Gill’s dream run at the event hadn’t gone unnoticed during the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction last weekend, where Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) acquired his services for Rs. 1.8 crore. Lucrative as the deal is, Gill is keen on playing all three formats of the game.

Shubman’s father Lakhwinder Singh Gill, an agriculturalist, said the player’s focus hadn’t been on the auction despite the interest in him among the franchises.

“Shubman had been preparing for the U-19 World Cup 2018 for two years. He wasn’t really keeping an eye out for the IPL auction. Since the day he left for New Zealand, he has been only thinking about winning the trophy for the country. As parents, we were thrilled to see his name in the auction list. His performances in the ongoing World Cup seem to have made a strong impression,” Gill senior had said after Shubman was picked up by KKR at the auction on Saturday.

With India now taking on Australia in the final on February 3, the 18-year-old from Punjab will look to continue his hot streak and help India lift the coveted trophy for the fourth time.