Mohali: Hours before Shubman Gill stood took the field at the Hagley Oval, in Christchurch New Zealand on Tuesday, the 18-year old had told his parents Lakhwinder Singh and Keerat Kaur Gill that he would score a century.

Gill indeed smashed a hundred, hitting 102 not out, as India thrashed Pakistan in a semi-final match of the U-19 World Cup.

"He told me he was very confident and since he hadn't scored a century in the World Cup so far, he would score one today," said father Lakhwinder.

Shubman, also the vice-captain of the team, faced 94 deliveries and hit seven boundaries. He didn't hit a six but his knock was good enough to guide the team's score to a respectable 272 from a precarious 166 for five. Chasing the target, Pakistan were bundled out for only 69.

When Shubman raised his bat after reaching the three figure mark, the family broke into cheers.

Born in an agriculturist family in Fazilka, Subhman would play with a plastic bat and ball from the age of three. Seeing his keen interest in the game, the family moved from Fazilka to Mohali.

"I left my village and my aged parents behind for Shubman's cricket. People had taunted me then, I was criticised very harshly... But today, people from my village are calling me up and saying how proud they are of our son," Lakhwinder said amidst a crowd of relatives and friends at house number 301, May Fair housing society, sector 70 Mohali.

"This is a huge moment for us... Our son has scored a century in a World Cup match and that too against Pakistan. This is a moment of great happiness for us," said Subhman's mother, Keerat.

"He wanted to play cricket and we let him play. We supported in whatever way we could... For two years he was preparing for the World Cup. We neglected our work, relatives, skipped family events so that we could be with him while he played," said Lakhwinder.

Like the veteran and star of the 1983 World Cup winning team Mohinder Amarnath, Shubman carries a red handkerchief with him. The story is that Shubman had found that handkerchief in his pocket after scoring a century while playing at the Under-16 level. He was going through a lean patch then.

India will play the final of the U-19 World Cup against Australia at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.

"I would tell him to forget about the century against Pakistan and concentrate hard for the final. I am confident that he will do well in the final too," said Lakhwinder.