Not Kohli Or Rohit, Vaibhav Suryavanshi Picks Gill As Role Model

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who went to watch Day 2 of the Edgbaston Test in Birmingham between England and India, called Indian Test skipper Shubman Gill as his role model in a BCCI TV video. Gill scored a splendid 269 in the first innings at Edgbaston. 

“This is my first Test in England and I am seeing how the game is going. I am feeling very good,” Suryavanshi said in the video. 

“We all came to watch the match. We got a lot of inspiration. Shubman Gill is a role model for us. Everyone's dream is to play red-ball cricket for their country.”

Suryavanshi attended the game along with his India U19 team, who are currently leading England U19 2-1 in the five Youth One Day series. They also have a Youth Test to play once the One-Day series is over.

Head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar revealed that it was National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman who suggested that the U19 side, led by Ayush Mhatre, should go to watch the Test match, as it would give them a lot of inspiration.  

“VVS Laxman was instrumental in arranging this,” Kanitkar said. 

“He was the one who actually said that it would be a good thing to go and watch this game. It's definitely a special occasion for any upcoming cricketer to be at a Test venue. 

“The main thing I want to take back from what we have watched so far is that not every ball has to be hit for a four and six. You can still be extremely effective and score runs at a good rate, like Shubman has done. When we go back, there will be a session on what they learnt from it.”

The fourth Youth One Day game will be played on July 5 (Saturday) at the New Road cricket ground in Worcester.