The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently shared an endearing video capturing captain Shubman Gill’s day at Edgbaston during the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between India and England. Beyond showcasing behind-the-scenes moments of his interactions with media and fans at the ground and team hotel, the video also featured an audio message from his parents, Lakhwinder Singh and Keart Gill, offering a touching personal insight into the young skipper’s life.
Gill’s monumental knock of 269 runs off 387 balls in India’s first innings of the Test was not only his highest individual score but also etched his name in history as the highest score by an Indian in Tests played outside Asia, and the best ever by an Indian captain. Lakhwinder Singh expressed immense pride and a sense of peace watching his son’s marathon innings, remarking that it transported him back to Gill’s childhood days. However, Gill humorously revealed that his father also pointed out his missed opportunity to achieve a triple-century.
“Shubman beta, well played. I really enjoyed watching your batting. It gave me a lot of peace of mind. When you were younger, under 16 or 19, you used to bat like that. And I felt very proud,” Lakhwinder can be heard saying in the video, played through Gill’s phone. Keart added her own words of encouragement, stating, “It was very nice to see your batting. Keep going. God bless you.”
Speaking after hearing the messages, Gill conveyed the deep significance of his parents’ words, given that his cricketing journey began because of his father. He shared, “I went to the pool for some recovery, came back, and showered… This message means a lot to me. I think growing up, I played almost all of my cricket for my dad. In the sense that it was because of him that I started playing cricket. And the only person, he and my best friend, whom I practiced with. These are the only two people, when it comes to my cricket, that I care about and that I listen to. So, it means a lot coming from him. But he did also tell me that I missed my triple century. Hopefully, we will end this match on a great note,” he concluded with a smile, highlighting the blend of pride and playful expectation from his family.
Here is the link to get access to the video:
Gill’s formidable innings played a crucial role in India’s first innings total of 587 all out. At stumps on Thursday, England stood at 77 for 3.
