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India National Cricket Team’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has given full credit to his father, Lakhwinder Singh Gill, for his cricketing journey. Shubman Gill said that his father always wanted to see him become a cricketer, and that dream became the biggest reason behind his success.
Gill has made some heartwarming revelations at the launch of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League in Mohali, Punjab, ahead of India’s two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, starting on August 15 in Galle. Amid this, Hanuma Vihari reveals Shubman Gill's role in BCCI's surprising move before Sri Lanka Tests.
Shubman Gill opens up on father's passion for the game
Speaking at the event, Shubman Gill revealed that his family runs a free cricket academy in their village where children from nearby areas come to learn the game. Whenever his father gets some free time, he goes to the academy and spends hours watching the youngsters play.
The Indian captain said that his father enjoys spotting talented kids and keeps telling him about boys who bat well or field brilliantly, even if they are only six or seven years old.
Gill said at the event, as quoted by PTI, “We also run a free cricket academy in our village so that children from the nearby areas can come and play there. Whenever my father gets some free time, he goes to the academy to watch the children play.
He would tell me, "Come and watch this boy bat," or point to another child and say, "Look at his fielding; he's a very good fielder," even though the child might only be six or seven years old.”
Shubman Gill credits father's dream for his success; opens up about the Lucky Kurta story
The right-hander has shared that his father's love for cricket has never changed. Even today, he gets excited after watching young players, and Gill feels this passion helped him become an Indian cricketer and is now helping many other children chase their dreams in his region.
Gill further added, “I think my father always had a dream of seeing me play cricket. I think it is because of his love and passion for cricket that I am sitting here today.”
The Indian captain shared a light-hearted family superstition with so much affection for his father that won everyone’s heart. Gill revealed that his father believes that a kurta-pyjama is lucky for him and because of which he prefers wearing the traditional outfit on India’s match days.
Gill signed off by saying, “My father is a little superstitious. He believes that whenever he wears a kurta-pyjama, we either win the match or I score runs. That's why he wears it wherever he goes.”
VIDEO | Mohali, Punjab: At the launch of the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League, India captain Shubman Gill, says, "I think my father always had a dream of seeing me play cricket. We also run a free cricket academy in our village so that children from the nearby areas can come and play… pic.twitter.com/foU7s3pORi
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 2, 2026
The real hero behind Shubman Gill's rise is his father
Meanwhile, Lakhwinder Singh Gill is a farmer from Punjab who played the biggest role in shaping the India captain's career. He wanted to become a cricketer, but he couldn’t, so he decided to help his son achieve that dream and live his own dream through his son.
He built a practice pitch on his farm, bowled 500-700 balls daily, created unique training drills, and even rewarded bowlers who dismissed Shubman. Later, Gill’s father shifted his family from Fazilka to Mohali so the current Indian captain could get better coaching.
Even today, Lakhwinder runs a free cricket academy in his village and continues to support and guide young cricketers with the same passion, and many times, Gill gave credit to his father for his success. Amid this, MS Dhoni gives Rishabh Pant a special tour of Ranchi in his car ahead of Sri Lanka Tests.
