After a dominant batting performance in the series against England, Shubman Gill received a special gift from Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar. The heartwarming gesture took place after Day 3 of the fifth Test at The Oval in London. Gavaskar presented Gill with a signed cap and a shirt bearing the initials "SG" to commemorate Gill's impressive performance throughout the series.
Gill, who captained the Indian team in the series, narrowly missed breaking Gavaskar's record of 774 runs in a Test series. Gill ended the series with 754 runs. Gavaskar's record was set during the 1970-71 tour of the West Indies.
In a video shared by Sony Sports Network, Gavaskar is seen handing over the gifts to Gill. Gavaskar said he had anticipated Gill surpassing his record and that the gifts were to encourage him to aim for the record in future series. "Well done. I have got a gift for you in anticipation of you going past," Gavaskar said in the video. "At least you got something to aim for in the next series. It is just a little gift. It is a shirt with SG initials, someone made it for me, I am giving this to you, but I don't know if it will fit you. This is a cap which I give to very few people with my signature. All the best," he added.
Gavaskar also lauded Gill for his leadership and tactical acumen during the fifth Test. He specifically praised Gill's strategy in the final moments of the third day's play, which led to the dismissal of England's Zak Crawley. Gavaskar admired the clever field placement and the execution of a yorker, which outsmarted the batsman.
Adding to the sense of occasion, Gavaskar revealed that he would be wearing his "lucky jacket" on Day 4 of the Test. This was the same white jacket he wore during India's historic Gabba Test victory against Australia in 2021. Gill had scored 92 runs in that match. Gavaskar said, "Tomorrow I am going to wear my lucky jacket, which I wore in Australia, the white one during the Gabba Test, on the last day".
Gill's performance in the series has been remarkable, with 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.40, including four centuries. His highest score of 269 came at Edgbaston, which helped India secure their biggest overseas win by 336 runs.
