'From Sneaking into the Stadium to Being Named Skipper': GT Captain Shubman Gill Reflects on Journey Ahead of MI Clash

The IPL 2024 is off to a brilliant start with some closely contested games between renowned sides opening the nation’s cricketing extravaganza.

The action will be handed an extra coat of sheen as Gujarat Titans welcome the joint-most successful side in the history of the tournament to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Ahead of the game, newly appointed GT skipper Shubman Gill reminisced on his journey to the helm of the team and expressed his gratitude for everything he has managed to accomplish at the young age of 24.

“I remember in 2009, I snuck into the stadium as a kid to watch the IPL players,” Gill said in a video recorded at the Ahmedabad-based side’s home ground.

“Looking back at those memories after having been named as the captain now, it has been a memorable journey,” he asserted.

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He also recollected a moment back in time when he clicking pictures as a kid alongside legends of the game after having snuck into the ground.

“I remember the first time I snuck in. We jumped off a gate and the guards were chasing us. It was me and my best friends,” the skipper said.

“We got pictures with Mahela Jayawardene, Brett Lee, and Kumar Sangakkara. MI were playing, so I met Sachin (Tendulkar) sir as well,” he elaborated.

Gill said that he was thankful for everything he has done up until now and hopes that the future bring a lot of the same.

“I’m very grateful for whatever I have achieved so far and hopefully I will be able to do a lot more,” he said.

The star batsman was handed the reins of captaincy after former GT skipper Hardik Pandya opted to return to his first IPL side, MI, following two successful campaigns with the Ahmedabad-based side.

Gill stated that if he could look back at the campaign at the end of the season with happiness, surrounded by his teammates, he would consider it a successful season.

“I can’t pinpoint one difference, but when this season is over if I’m happy and my team is happy, hopefully with plenty of good memories with my team, I will sit back and tell myself that we have had a pretty successful season,” the 24-year-old concluded.