“Your debut was better than mine,” Shubhman Gill recalls MS Dhoni cheering him up after disappointing debut
Shubhman Gill explains how the former captain assisted him after his terrible debut against New Zealand in 2019.
Shubhman Gill tells an anecdote that demonstrates why MS Dhoni was, is, and always will be India’s finest captain. He claimed to be dejected and frustrated after failing to create an impression, but former captain MS Dhoni encouraged him. Dhoni joked with Gill that his score of 9 was the same as the captain’s debut innings for India in the 2011 World Cup. Prior to the game, Dhoni presented Gill with his coveted India cap.
Gill made his national team debut in a one-day international against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2019. The teenage right-hander had a dismal outing, scoring only 9 runs in 21 balls as the Men in Blue were bowled out for 92.
Dhoni’s words of wisdom.
“The day I made by debut, I was sitting outside and was sad having scored just 15 (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,” said Gill on chat show ‘Dil Diyan Gallan’ hosted by Sonam Bajwa.
Skipper Ms Dhoni is an incredible tale between two runouts whose careers began and finished in the same way. Mahi is still India’s most successful captain, having won every possible trophy and making a name for himself. Coming from a humble upbringing, no one expected MSD to achieve the things he has, and he will always be considered one of the greats.
