Indian cricket’s current Test and ODI captain, Shubman Gill, is once again in the spotlight. This time, the reason isn’t cricket, but football.
Shubman Gill recently met Manchester City’s star footballer Erling Haaland, who gifted him a pair of signed football boots. This special moment quickly went viral on social media.
The two players spent time together and exchanged gifts. Gill has also met Ed Sheeran and Kevin De Bruyne in the past few months, further solidifying his global sports presence.
Shubman Gill and Haaland Meeting Becomes Talking Point
Pictures and videos of the meeting are being widely shared and appreciated by fans. One post read, “Shubman Gill meets Erling Haaland. 😍 – Haaland gifted his signed football boots to the Indian Captain.”
This meeting between two big names from cricket and football was a treat for sports fans. Shubman Gill’s confidence and growing stature on the international stage are clearly evident.
Speaking of cricket, Shubman Gill’s career has progressed rapidly in the last year. He was given the captaincy of the Test and ODI teams, where he performed well in red-ball cricket.
However, he still faces criticism in the T20 format, and his exclusion from the ICC T20 World Cup squad was considered a major setback.
Irfan Pathan Backs Gill’s Growth as Leader
Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has openly supported Shubman Gill. He said, “The same can be said for Gill. He became captain in that England series; he increased his average and authority within the team. Then he got the ODI captaincy; when that happens, you get an opportunity to grow a lot.”
Irfan Pathan further added, “The more responsibility and challenges he gets, the more he will grow as a cricketer.” Shubman Gill is being compared to legends like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, to which Pathan clearly stated, “He has a lot of talent. There will always be comparisons. Virat was compared with Sachin (Tendulkar), and now Gill is being compared to Virat, who has scored those 25,000-30,000 runs. I think he is fully capable of it. He has a fine range of shots.”
This phase before IPL 2026 is considered very important for Shubman Gill’s career.
His captaincy experience, international exposure, and association with top players seem to be further strengthening both his game and his mindset in the coming years.
