Shubman Gill's Defining Moment: How an U23 Match Sparked a Cricketing Dream at Age 11

India vice-captain Shubman Gill has spoken about the exact moment in his life when he decided that he would take up cricket as his career. The Indian batting prodigy, who has always been seen as a successor to Virat Kohli, was held in high regard from his formative years.

Speaking to Apple Music podcast, Gill said that he was 11 years old when he decided that he wanted to become a cricketer. Gill opened up on one of the practice matches that he was playing—an U23 match in 2010. With one of the teams falling short of one batter, Gill got a chance to bat lower in the order.

While there were reservations from the coaches about playing him in a match where the opposition was twice his age, young Shubman shocked everyone and played a 90-run knock. Shubman said in the podcast that it was at this moment that he realised that he wanted to become a cricketer.

“Honestly, I realised this is going to be my career when I was 11. There was a camp going on for under-23 Indian fast bowlers, and I was only 11. Most of the players there were more than double my age, and they were a batsman short. One of my closest friends, Kush Pri, who I practiced with and who was in that camp as a fast bowler, asked the head coach if he could bring me in because they needed a batsman for the match," Shubman Gill said on the Apple Music podcast.

"At first, they said, ‘Oh, he’s too young, he’s just 11, he won’t be able to play here.’ But Kush insisted, saying, ‘He plays with me, I bowl to him all the time, he can handle this.’ Eventually, they agreed."

"I was batting way down the order at number seven or eight, but our first four or five batsmen got out within the first few overs. I went in to bat and ended up scoring 90-something not out. It was just a practice match, nothing official, but the confidence that moment gave me made me realise that this is what I am meant to do. That feeling is something I’ll never forget or be able to let go of, and it was such an important moment in my journey,” Shubman concluded his story.

Shubman Gill's Rise in Indian Cricket

Shubman had a steady rise in the Indian domestic scene with his performances for Punjab’s Under-16 and Under-19 teams. His elegant batting technique and calm temperament set him apart from the others.

Gill’s big break came in 2017 when he was named the vice-captain of India’s Under-19 World Cup team. Throughout the tournament, he impressed everyone with Shubman's fluent strokeplay and ability to anchor innings under pressure. His performances were instrumental in India winning the title, and he finished as one of the leading run-scorers of the Indian team, which earned him widespread recognition.

Following this, Gill seamlessly transitioned to senior domestic cricket, representing Punjab in the Ranji Trophy. His consistent performances earned him a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders. In the IPL, Gill showcased his versatility and maturity, often playing crucial innings at the top of the order against some of the world’s best bowlers.

Gill’s international debut came in 2020 when he was selected for India’s Test side during the Australia tour. His composed innings at the Gabba, under challenging conditions, cemented his place as a promising young talent. Since then, he has grown into a dependable opener for India in white-ball formats and now captains the Test team.

Gill is seen as the long-term prospect for captaincy in all formats of the game.