“Shubman Gill Made an Innocent Face”, Abhishek Sharma Reveals Hilarious U-16 Mischief

Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill’s friendship goes back to their early cricketing days in Punjab, where they first played together in age-group matches. Today, they form India’s explosive T20I opening pair, but their bond was built long before the international spotlight.

Abhishek recently shared a lesser-known, playful side of Gill from their Under-16 days, recalling an incident that revealed his friend’s mischievous streak and quick thinking. During a tournament in Dharamsala, their hotel was close to the stadium, and they often travelled by bus.

On one such journey, the young cricketers clashed with the bus driver over playing Punjabi music, and Gill took the lead in the argument. “There is one guy who did a lot of mischief in age-group cricket but never got caught, and that is Shubman. I will tell you an incident.”

He further added :

“We were in Dharamsala for the Under-16. Our hotel was 500m away from the stadium. We used to go there by bus. The driver was stopping the music, but we wanted to play Punjabi songs. He said no, and we got into an argument with him. And the one who was shouting the most was Shubman. The incident went to the coaches and the drivers complained…..”

Gill’s Talent for Innocence

Despite being at the centre of the situation, Gill cleverly avoided punishment. Abhishek Sharma explained that his teammate possesses an unusual talent — the ability to change his expressions to appear completely innocent. This skill helped Gill escape trouble while the others faced consequences.

“They asked the drivers to identify who did it. There were 4-5 of us. Five of us were standing in a line, and Shubman was last. The coach pointed towards each of us and asked the drivers. They told no, it was not him (Shubman). I was shocked.”

He added :

“They called the four of us out and made us sign a letter that was to send us back home. I was sad that the one who started it was not called out. He has a talent for changing expressions. He made an innocent face that day,” Abhishek recalled. “Shubman Gill made an innocent face…”

Abhishek’s Rise and Current Form

While their youthful mischief is now just a fond memory, both players have grown into key figures for Indian cricket. Abhishek, in particular, is enjoying a stellar run of form.

Following his international debut last year, he has established a strong record and played a standout role in the Asia Cup, scoring 314 runs at an impressive average of 44.85. Their journey from playful teenagers to international stars highlights not only their talent but also the strong bond that continues to define their partnership on the field.