Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav stroll off the field after India’s nine-wicket victory over UAE. (ACC Photo) NEW DELHI: A couple of days before UAE’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against India, Simranjeet Singh wondered if Shubman Gill would even remember him. Gill, now India’s Test captain and T20I vice-captain, had been just a 12-year-old when Simranjeet had bowled to him in the nets in Mohali, Punjab.That question was answered swiftly during the Group A match in Dubai. When Gill hit the winning boundary off the third ball of Simranjeet’s first over to seal India’s 58-run chase, he walked straight towards his old practice partner, shook his hand and hugged him — a gesture that lit up Simranjeet’s face with a wide smile.
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Their cricketing paths had diverged drastically after those early days. While Gill rose quickly through the ranks, winning the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2018 and debuting across all formats for India, Simranjeet’s career stalled. He never played first-class cricket for Punjab cricket team and moved to the UAE in 2021.“I had an offer to practice in Dubai and came here for 20-odd days in April 2021. Then the second wave of COVID-19 struck India, and I couldn’t return. I eventually stayed back,” Simranjeet told PTI.To qualify for UAE selection, Simranjeet had to complete three domestic seasons. Meanwhile, he made ends meet by coaching juniors and playing club cricket. “Once I got into the UAE team, I got a central contract with the Emirates Cricket Board and things are looking good,” he said.On Wednesday, over a decade after their first meeting, Simranjeet bowled to Gill in an international match. The 35-year-old started with a single to long-off, then watched Gill pull his third delivery back down the ground for the winning boundary.By then, India had already set up the win with a ruthless bowling display. Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets in one over as UAE folded for just 57 in 13.1 overs. Chasing 58, India cruised to victory in 4.3 overs, thanks to a blistering 30 off 16 from Abhishek Sharma and Gill’s calm unbeaten 20 — but for Simranjeet, the real highlight was an embrace that bridged more than a decade.
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