Earning the national cap, making a debut for the team, and making the most of the much-waited opportunity are what most youngsters wait for. Shubman Gill, after winning the Under 19 World Cup title, was waiting for his maiden call in the Indian national team. He earned his ODI back in 2019 on the New Zealand tour but got dismissed after scoring only nine runs off 21 balls as India lost the match by eight wickets in Hamilton.
Depressed Gill was sitting on the sidelines when the veteran wicketkeeper MS Dhoni came to him. A conversation later, Gill was all smiling. Three years later, Gill recalled what the former India skipper had told him.
Shubman Gill to make his T20I debut in New Zealand?
Speaking on the chat show ‘Dil Diyan Gallan’ hosted by Sonam Bajwa, Gill recalled that after he was dismissed early in the game. Dhoni came to talk to him and told him about his debut game in which he got dismissed for a golden duck against Bangladesh back in 2004. Dhoni had, in fact, not even played a single ball when he got run out.
“The day I made by debut, I was dismissed when India were around 15. I was sitting outside and was sad having scored just 9 runs in my debut. So Mahi bhai came and saw that I was very sad. I was then around 18-19 years old. He told me at least your debut was better than mine. I realised he was dismissed for golden duck in his debut. He did not face a single ball and was run out. Then he started laughing and joking and I was touched by that gesture,” he said.
Gill is present with the Indian side in New Zealand for the T20I series. The first between the two sides was washed out due to rain. The second T20I is set to be played today at the Bay Oval.
