“I Couldn’t Move”: When Karsan Ghavri First Saw Shubman Gill’s incredible Batting

Shubman Gill, now one of the brightest stars in Indian cricket, started his journey like many others with raw passion, a supportive family, and a stroke of luck. Born in Punjab, Gill was deeply committed to cricket from a young age. His father, Lakhwinder Singh, played a major role in shaping his career. Determined to see his son succeed, Lakhwinder moved the family from their village to Mohali, just to be closer to better cricket facilities and coaching.

But apart from his father, another crucial figure in his early years was former India fast bowler Karsan Ghavri.

Over a decade ago, Ghavri was running the BCCI's pace bowlers' academy in Mohali. During one Under-19 camp, Ghavri found himself short of batsmen to face the bowlers. He requested the Punjab Cricket Association to send some local young players.

The practice was going on smoothly at the PCA facilities in Mohali when, on one of the days, it started drizzling steadily, and they had to stop the nets. It would have taken some time to make the indoor facility operational. Ghavri, along with his assistant coach, walked around and casually strolled to a nearby ground. There, a local match of 12- and 13-year-olds was continuing despite the wet pitch. 

One batter stood out, his technique and shot selection sparkling with promise. “I couldn’t move,” Ghavri later recalled. “That boy captivated me.” Curious, Ghavri spotted a man watching intently under a tree. It was Lakhwinder, Shubman’s father. “That’s my son Shubman. He’s 12,” Lakhwinder said proudly. Ghavri didn’t hesitate. “He’s a fantastic player,” he told Lakhwinder. “Send him to the PCA nets tomorrow.”

Ghavri wanted Shubman to face the older bowlers, confident the young prodigy could hold his own. “In my mind, I wanted Shubman to face the 18-year-olds like Sandeep. Somewhere in my mind, I knew he could,” Ghavri recalled.

The rest was built on discipline. Gill was already known in local circles for playing cricket with a tennis ball when not training. He had scored 351 runs in an Under-16 district match and an unbeaten double century in his Under-16 state debut. His efforts earned him the BCCI’s Best Junior Cricketer award for two consecutive years.

Shubman gill rise to fame: 

Shubman Gill’s rise to fame began with the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, where he served as vice-captain and was named Player of the Tournament. His century in the semi-final against Pakistan stood out and marked him as a future star.

While still in New Zealand for the World Cup, Gill was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2018 auction for ₹1.8 crore. He made his ODI debut in 2019, but it was the 2020-21 Test series in Australia that truly showcased his skill. Gill impressed with scores of 45 and 35 on debut at the MCG, followed by a half-century in Sydney and a brilliant 91 at the Gabba, helping India clinch a historic series win.

His first Test century came in Chattogram in 2022. In 2023, at just 23 years old, he became the youngest Indian to score a double century in ODIs, smashing 208 off 149 balls against New Zealand.

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Gill continued his form in 2024, playing key innings in India’s 4-1 home Test series win over England—including centuries in Visakhapatnam and Dharamsala, and a gritty 52 in Ranchi.

Following Hardik Pandya’s move to another IPL team, Gill was made captain of Gujarat Titans in 2024. Under his leadership, the team reached the playoffs in 2025. Around the same time, after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket, Gill was announced as the captain of India’s Test team for the 2025 England tour. [Rh/Eth/VP]