It was January, 2025 and India were playing Australia in a key Test match in Sydney. It was the last over before lunch and Pat Cummins had gone to Nathan Lyon. Shubman Gill, who had done the hard work for an hour and more, lost his composure and danced down the track to Lyon to be stumped with just three balls left for lunch. It was a key moment in the game and Australia capitalised on the opportunity.
Fast forward to Manchester this July, and India were 0-2 on Day 4 right on the stroke of lunch when Gill, now leading the side, walked in. England had their tails up and a win in the fourth Test would have given Ben Stokes and his team an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series. Pressure was at its maximum and Gill had a lot to ponder. With KL Rahul for company, he showed exemplary patience and grit. For close to five hours, India did not lose a wicket and by the end of the day, the duo had raised hopes of a draw. It was exactly the opposite of Sydney. Impatience had cost Gill in Sydney, while in Manchester, it was his patience that earned India a much-needed draw.
In six months, Gill had turned things around. From being questioned for his inability to score in SENA countries to making 754 runs in five Tests in England, it has been a story of talent coming to fruition. As he celebrates his 26th birthday today, he is arguably on his way to becoming Indian cricket’s biggest brand. In years to come, he could even surpass Virat Kohli, the talisman of the last decade. Gill, poised to become India’s all-format captain, speaks well and has a certain poise about him. Young and articulate, he could well be the sport’s next superstar. If he keeps performing with the bat, which is very likely given his talent, the next few years could well define the Gill narrative.
From being discovered by Karsan Ghavri at the tender age of 12, to becoming India’s red-ball captain, Gill has come a long way. Here’s wishing him many more accolades on his birthday.