India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill found himself at the centre of a viral clip-on Wednesday after an unexpected fan encounter in Adelaide.
A short video on social media shows a fan approaching Gill for a handshake while he was taking a casual stroll on the streets of Adelaide ahead of the second ODI against Australia. Moments after greeting the cricketer, the fan suddenly chants “Pakistan Zindabad!”, leaving the Indian skipper visibly startled for a brief moment.
Gill’s restrained reaction with a composed smile followed by a brief nod has since been widely shared online. While some fans praised the 26-year-old for keeping his cool, others criticised the incident, calling it “provocative” and “disrespectful.”
The clip, shot by a passer-by, has sparked a storm of reactions across X and Instagram, with several users commending Gill’s maturity. “Perfect calmness from the captain. No need to react when silence says it all,” one comment read.
What’s Shubman up to these days?
Gill, who recently replaced Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain, is in Australia for a three-match series. The second ODI at Adelaide Oval on Thursday is a must-win for Team India after their seven-wicket loss in Perth on October 19.
In the series opener, Gill managed only 10 runs from 18 balls, while senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also failed to make an impact. The visitors will now look to bounce back and level the contest before heading to Sydney for the final game. Before this tour, Gill faced Pakistan thrice in the Asia Cup last month, scoring 10, 47 and 12 in Dubai.
As the video continues to trend, fans hope the calm seen on the streets of Adelaide translates into poise and power at the crease on Thursday.
