‘My father sacrificed everything’: Shubman Gill reveals 3 am practice sessions and his journey

Shubman Gill opens up on 3 am practices and his journey. (Photo: Instagram)

Shubman Gill recalls his very first cricket bat-holding experience. His father watched matches late into the night when he was just three years old, and he tried to mimic what he saw on TV.

In their village in Punjab, cricket was more than simply a hobby; it brought his father great happiness. Gill wanted to be a part of that environment, and his father instantly recognized that his son had a unique talent.

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In an Apple Music podcast, Gill explained how the family farm served as his first training field. Farm laborers were asked to bowl at him by his father, who would even give them prizes if they could dismiss him.

Batting became second nature as the hours stretched into days. His father made the decision to relocate the family to Chandigarh, a city with greater amenities and prospects, when he was seven years old. Although it was a daring move, it completely altered the course of events.

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There were obstacles in the path. His father didn't let the idea die when young Gill was expelled from his academy due to a dispute with a coach.

He made his own timetable instead, waking Shubman up for practice before school at three in the morning. The perseverance and discipline that would characterize Gill's cricketing personality were developed during those years-long dawn sessions.

As the youngest player to captain India in Test matches and the owner of other captaincy records, Gill looks back on his journey and attributes it to his father's belief.

"He was my first coach, my first inspiration," Gill said. "Without those sacrifices, I would never be here."

Gill's journey from farm fields in Punjab to leading India to historic triumphs overseas is more than just a cricket tale. It is the story of a father who never wavered in his devotion and a son who took that faith to the biggest platform.