India U19 men’s head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar shared that VVS Laxman, the head of BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, played a key role in organizing a special experience for the young cricketers.
The entire India U19 team, led by Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre, along with Kanitkar and the support staff, got the opportunity to watch the second day’s play of the ongoing Test at Edgbaston.
During that day, Indian skipper Shubman Gill scored a brilliant 269, giving the youngsters a chance to witness a top-quality Test knock live. According to Kanitkar, this outing served as valuable exposure for the young players to understand the art of building an innings in red-ball cricket.
“VVS Laxman was instrumental in arranging this. 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,” said Kanitkar.
He emphasized the importance of learning that batters don’t have to go for big shots every time. “The main thing I want them to take back from what we have watched so far, as a batter, is that not every ball has to be whacked for a four and six.”
Learning from Gill’s Batting Masterclass
Hrishikesh Kanitkar praised Gill’s innings, pointing out the balance between patience and shot-making. “He has batted like a classical Test innings, but he has not just ground it. He has played his shots. He has chosen the right ball, getting into good positions.”
According to him, Gill’s approach shows that success can come from doing the basics right. This is something young cricketers can connect with and strive to follow in their own careers. Kanitkar also mentioned that once they return, a session would be held to reflect on what they learned from the match.
Inspiration for the Young Players
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a left-handed batter who has been performing well in the youth series, shared his excitement. “I am feeling very good. This is my first Test match of watching in England, and I am seeing how the game is going.”
He added, “We got a lot of inspiration because Shubman Gill is a role model for us.” Similarly, Anmoljeet Singh, a spinner from Punjab like Gill, said watching the game motivated him even more. “Gill was batting at 114 at that time, and it felt good that he was playing.” He expressed a strong desire to represent India just like Gill.
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