As Shubman Gill leads Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025, a bigger responsibility awaits him next month — captaining the Indian Test team on their tour of England. With Rohit Sharma retiring from the longest format, Gill will become the 37th cricketer to lead India in Test matches, marking a major milestone in his young but impressive career.

Gill has always acknowledged the critical influence his father had in shaping his cricketing journey. But another key figure behind his rise is none other than former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, whom Gill regards as a mentor and guiding force.

Echoing those sentiments, Yograj Singh — Yuvraj’s father and a former India cricketer himself — highlighted Yuvraj’s vital contribution to Gill’s development, stating, “If Shubman Gill has become captain today and will remain so for a long time, Yuvraj Singh’s guidance will have played a major part in that.”

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Gill has frequently spoken about how Yuvraj mentored him, especially during the pandemic lockdown when they worked together on refining his batting technique. “Yuvi Paaji has been a mentor to me, like a big brother. Making him proud is a very special feeling,” Shubman Gill once shared.

Yuvraj has also mentored other rising stars, including Abhishek Sharma, the record-holder for the highest T20I score by an Indian. Yograj Singh further hailed Yuvraj as possessing the “greatest cricketing brain in the world” and expressed pride in seeing his son mentor talents like Gill.

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After Gill was named India’s new Test captain, Yuvraj Singh posted a heartfelt message on Instagram: “With great power comes great responsibility. I know you’ll carry both with pride! Congratulations @shubmangill — onwards and upwards!” With England awaiting and expectations soaring, Gill’s journey into leadership now begins in earnest.