The Indian men’s team is all set to make its first-ever international appearance in Mullanpur, Punjab, and the spotlight naturally falls on the homegrown trio of Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Arshdeep Singh. Their journey has been intertwined since their early days—rising through Punjab’s domestic circuit, lifting the 2018 U19 World Cup together, and later becoming core members of India’s modern T20 setup.

Tonight, as India takes on South Africa in the 2nd T20I at the New Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, the emotional connection between the players, their families, and the fans will be on full display. Arshdeep Singh’s mother, Baljit Kaur, expressed her joy at seeing the boys reunite on home soil. “All three are like brothers; they share a very close bond.

Watching them play for India together feels like our own family is representing the country,” she told The Indian Express. She recalled how their families even travelled together in Australia, creating memories that strengthened their bond. “At Mullanpur too, we’ll all be cheering together,” she added.

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Abhishek Sharma’s father, Rajkumar Sharma, echoed similar pride, having witnessed their rise from close quarters. “I’ve seen all of them since their younger days, especially Shubman. It’s rare to see three players from the same system become near-permanent fixtures in the Indian team. It makes us incredibly happy,” he said.

This trio represents the newest wave of Punjab’s cricketing legacy—a lineage that includes legends like Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. Today, Gill leads India in Tests and ODIs and serves as the T20I vice-captain. Abhishek stands as the world’s No. 1 T20I batter, and Arshdeep holds the record as India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is.

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Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour believes their success is deeply rooted in Punjab’s sporting culture. “Punjab athletes are known for their hard work, fearlessness, and fun-loving nature. T20 cricket thrives on exactly those qualities,” Rathour said.

Tonight’s game is more than just a contest—it’s a homecoming celebration for Punjab’s brightest stars.