Shubman Gill continued his rapid rise as both captain and batter on Day 1 of the one-off Test between India and Afghanistan in Mullanpur on June 6. While India’s dominant batting display drew most of the attention, a touching moment involving Gill during the tea break quickly caught fire on social media and won plenty of hearts. As Gill and KL Rahul walked back to the pavilion after the second session, a young ball-duty volunteer standing near the boundary line touched the India skipper’s feet as he passed by.
The brief gesture reflected the admiration Gill now commands among young cricket fans, and the clip quickly went viral as supporters praised the 26-year-old for becoming a role model in Indian cricket.
Earlier in the day, India won the toss and chose to bat first on a surface that looked promising for batting. The decision paid off in style as the hosts put Afghanistan under pressure right from the start. Returning to Test cricket after a six-month gap, India ended Day 1 in complete control at 368/3 after 85 overs.
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KL Rahul set the tone with a classy century, scoring 100 off 165 balls with 11 boundaries. His innings gave India the perfect foundation, while Sai Sudharsan played a confident supporting role with 81 off 104 deliveries. The pair added a vital 139 runs for the second wicket and kept the scoreboard moving at a healthy pace.
A young cricketer touched Shubman Gill’s feet after the tea break. ♥️
– RESPECT IS EARNED, NOT BEGGED! pic.twitter.com/z1d2YNrerb
— Ahmed Says (@AhmedGT_) June 6, 2026
Gill then took over in the final session, finishing unbeaten on 103 from 143 balls with 11 fours and a six. He batted with complete authority and kept India firmly in command. Rishabh Pant added further momentum with a brisk, unbeaten 50 off 70 balls, ensuring the scoring rate never dipped.
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The partnerships told the story of India’s day. Rahul and Sudharsan shared 139 for the second wicket, Rahul and Gill added 67 for the third, and Gill and Pant stitched together an unbeaten 121-run stand for the fourth wicket.
