‘MS Dhoni told me your debut was better than mine’ – Shubman Gill recalls chat with MSD after his first match

Team India opener Shubman Gill, earmarked to be the torchbearer of the side for the following decade recently appeared on Sonam Bajwa’s Punjabi chat show titled Dil Diyan Gallan. Shubman Gill talked about several topics related to cricket during the show one of them revolving around the talented batter’s first interaction with MS Dhoni in national colors.

Gill was handed his ODI debut on 19 January, 2019 vs New Zealand and Mahendra Singh Dhoni was still an active international cricketer back then.

Shubman Gill recalls MS Dhoni’s consoling words

On the aforementioned show, Gill told that he felt dejected after flopping at his first international game (he scored 9 off 21) but former Team India skipper MSD’s words offered him some respite.

Gill was a part of a classy Trent Boult 5-fer that forced the wheels off the Men in Blue during 2019 Hamilton ODI.

“It was my debut match. Team was bundled out for 80-90 runs and I scored just 15 runs (9 runs, actually). I was sitting dejected after the match because the team lost and I got out for a low score. MS Dhoni came to me and told me that your (Shubman Gill) debut was atleast better than mine (Dhoni’s). It made me feel better.”

For the uninitiated, MS had the worst possible ODI debut in 2004 and was dismissed for a diamond duck.

In conversation with Sonam Bajwa, Shubman Gill recalls his debut match against NZ and MS Dhoni's kind gesture towards him. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NJ9rwKaqa9

— Shubman Gill FC (@shubmangillfans) November 18, 2022

Gill also added how he didn’t except a huge name like Mahendra Singh Dhoni to care about a newcomer like him, saying that it inspires him to be a caring senior like Dhoni when the time comes.

During the show, Shubman Gill picked Kohli as the best Team India skipper over MS Dhoni, Rohit, Hardik and Shikhar Dhawan. He also talked about how he’d not have been a cricketer if not for Sachin Tendulkar inspiring his dad, who in turn inspired and coached Shubman himself.

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The 23-year-old batsman is a part of the squad touring New Zealand for limited-overs internationals and will be seen batting in days upcoming.

MS Dhoni, on the other hand, will be seen in action for CSK during the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League.