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News18
10 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Young Shubman Gill's Photo Goes Viral As India's New Captain Braves Ultimate Test
Last Updated: Shubman Gill's photo from his younger days went viral on 'X' as wishes poured in to back the captain of Team India touring England for a five-match Test series starting Friday. Every child holding a bat or a ball dreams of playing for India someday. For some, cricket is a sport to catch up with their friends from the colony, and for others, it becomes a lifelong passion. When Shubman Gill was announced as the Test captain to lead India after Rohit Sharma's departure, one of the first reactions on social media was skepticism. It was a difficult test, after all. Being appointed as the captain of the red ball format ahead of a difficult England tour that includes as many as five Tests, is no walk in the park—Gill, 25, is the fifth youngest captain in India's Test history. Leading up to the Headingley Test between England and India, starting on Friday, June 20, most skepticism among some cricket fans has largely dissipated. They now believe that Gill will prove his mettle and lead India forward. 'From the soils of Punjab to the summit of Indian cricket — Shubman Gill, the son of Punjab Cricket Association, now leads the nation as Test Captain. The journey was never luck — it was destiny. You are the chosen one. And tomorrow, a new legacy begins. All of Punjab stands behind you. Now show the world why you wear that crown," a fan wrote while sharing a photo of Gill from his younger days. From the soils of Punjab to the summit of Indian cricket — Shubman Gill, the son of Punjab Cricket Association, now leads the nation as Test journey was never luck — it was are the chosen one. And tomorrow, a new legacy of Punjab stands… — Punjab Cricket Association (@pcacricket) June 19, 2025 When quizzed about what was more magnificent to him — winning a five-Test series in England or IPL — Gill had a simple response. 'Definitely the Test series in my opinion. You know, you don't get many opportunities as a captain to be able to come to England. Maybe two, if you are the best of your generation, maybe three," Gill said in a press conference. 'IPL comes every year and you get to go have a crack at it every year. So in my opinion, winning a Test series in England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa are bigger, (sic)" he added. Gary Kirsten Former India coach Gary Kirsten, who mentored the Indian Premier League franchise Gujarat Titans led by Gill, has backed the young captain for his new role. 'I think Shubman is going to be a great leader. He's a smart cricketer, he's got a good brain for the game and understands his game. He's very talented and a nice human being, which I think is important," Kirsten said while speaking on JioHotstar. 'The one thing I like about Shubman is that he walks the talk. He's very organised, very diligent with his training and preparation and that sets a great example for other players," Kirsten said. Kirsten added that when a leader is chosen, they are bound to go through a cycle of pressure and scrutiny. Sachin Tendulkar When Sachin Tendulkar was asked about Gill's appointment as the leader of the Test team, the cricket great asserted that he had faith in the youngster and that he was a good student of the game. 'Shubman is a talented player and very, very eager to go out and compete hard and bring laurels to the nation. I have faith in him. Whatever I have seen, I have interacted a bit with him. He is a good student of the game, and whatever I have seen him in IPL T20 leading Gujarat (Titans), he has been impressive," Tendulkar told former England cricketer Michael Atherton during an interview with Sky Sports. KL Rahul KL Rahul, aged 33, was reportedly not considered for India's Test captaincy due to his age, but he is more than happy to support Gill and provide guidance whenever needed. 'I reached out to Shubman the minute the team was announced, and when he was announced (as) the captain," ," Rahul told Sony Sports Network. '(I told him) You will always find me around, any help, any guidance, if you need someone to share something with or talk to, I'm always there. About the Author Anurag Verma Anurag Verma, News Editor at works independently for the Viral section. Bollywood, Cricket, Science, Tech, YouTube, Reddit, Meme Origins and everything Pop-culture are his forte. He covers More News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: June 20, 2025, 10:10 IST
News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
PCA's Tweet For Shubman Gill Ahead Of His 1st Test As India Captain Breaks Internet
Last Updated: Shubman Gill was appointed as India's Test captain on May 24, and on Friday (June 20) he will play his first red-ball match as the captain of the Indian men's cricket team. Shubman Gill will make his Test captaincy debut on Friday (June 20). The 25-year-old right-handed batter from Punjab was appointed as India's 37th Test captain on May 24, and on June 20, he will play his first Test as India captain against England at Headingley in Leeds. Ahead of Gill's memorable Test, the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) took to X on Thursday (June 19) to share a post for him, which is now going viral on the internet. In the viral tweet, PCA shared an old picture of Gill and wrote, 'From the soils of Punjab to the summit of Indian cricket—Shubman Gill, the son of the Punjab Cricket Association, now leads the nation as Test Captain. The journey was never luck—it was destiny. You are the chosen one. And tomorrow, a new legacy begins. All of Punjab stands behind you. Now show the world why you wear that crown." Here's a look: From the soils of Punjab to the summit of Indian cricket — Shubman Gill, the son of Punjab Cricket Association, now leads the nation as Test journey was never luck — it was are the chosen one. And tomorrow, a new legacy of Punjab stands… — Punjab Cricket Association (@pcacricket) June 19, 2025 Gill, who has played 32 Tests for India so far, was preferred for the top job over the likes of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah. Gill will succeed Rohit Sharma as India Test captain, and the right-handed batter would like to lead by example. Gill, who is seen as the next big thing in cricket by many fans, experts, and greats of the game, has captained India in five T20Is so far and won four matches. He was appointed as vice-captain of India's T20I and ODI teams last year in July. In the five-match Test series between India and England, Gill will bat at No. 4. While speaking to reporters during India's pre-match press conference on Thursday, Gill said both he and head coach Gautam Gambhir felt the No. 4 slot was ideal for him once Kohli retired. 'After Virat Bhai retired, me and GG (Gautam Gambhir) Bhai had a discussion about it, and we were both clear that he wanted me to bat at No. 4, and I was also clear that I also wanted to bat at that number," he said. Gill also emphasised on giving longer ropes to deserving players. 'It's about (having) clear communication; what do you want from them? Trying to assign roles and how they would want to go about their things. Having the confidence to be able to back them with their natural game (as to) how they want to play this game," he said. 'Definitely there would be some players that you tend to give long ropes just because of their pure potential that you see. But having said that, it's all about giving them clear communication and having honest conversations with them, and that's how I feel the bond of a leader and a player is (at) the best," he added.
