Shubman Gill, the talented opening batter of the Indian cricket team, has shared the fascinating tale behind his jersey number 77 in the Cricket World Cup 2023. While Gill is yet to convert his starts into big scores in this tournament, he remains determined to regain his top form.
In 2023, the 24-year-old has already set the cricketing world abuzz by smashing five centuries in ODIs, including a memorable double century against New Zealand. Although his performance has been a bit underwhelming in the World Cup, the young batsman’s potential is undeniable, and fans eagerly await his resurgence, with India set to face Sri Lanka on November 2 in Mumbai.
Shubman Gill recently revealed the story behind his jersey number while speaking to Star Sports. He disclosed that he initially wanted the iconic number 7 but couldn’t get it, leading him to add another 7 and choose jersey number 77.
“When I was playing in the U19 World Cup, I wanted the number 7, but it was not available, so I took two 7s,” Shubman explained. The number 7 holds a special place in Indian cricket history, largely due to former captain MS Dhoni, who wore it. Now that Dhoni has retired, Shubman has the opportunity to wear the number 7, but he seems content with 77. It’s possible he doesn’t want to overthink it or perhaps the BCCI has plans for the number 7, similar to Sachin Tendulkar’s retired 10.
Shubman also shared insights into his cricketing idols, past and present. While his current favorite is Virat Kohli, his childhood hero was the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. He also revealed his nickname in the Gill household – ‘Kaka,’ a Punjabi term for ‘baby.’
As of now, Shubman Gill doesn’t feature among the top 25 batters in the World Cup, where players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul shine. His World Cup journey faced an unfortunate setback when he contracted dengue, taking almost ten days to recover. Since his comeback against Pakistan, he’s been a regular in the Indian lineup, partnering with Rohit Sharma at the top. However, he’s yet to post a substantial score.
Both Shubman and the Indian team management are hopeful that he will soon find his form and start scoring consistently. Fortunately, his opening partner Rohit Sharma has been in exceptional touch and compensated for the runs Shubman couldn’t provide at the start of innings.
As fans wait for Shubman Gill’s return to form, his unique choice of jersey number 77 adds an intriguing twist to his cricketing journey.
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