When someone becomes the captain of the Indian Test team, the spotlight intensifies. But when your childhood friend publicly backs you with pride and confidence, the moment becomes even more special. That’s exactly what happened with Shubman Gill — and his childhood buddy Abhishek Sharma didn’t hold back his emotions.

But what does this mean for Gautam Gambhir, who reportedly backed Gill for the captaincy? Could this glowing endorsement from a close friend make Gambhir feel vindicated?

Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma have played together since their early days, even training under the same mentor — none other than Yuvraj Singh. The duo has shared cricket dreams for years, and now, those dreams are coming to life.

In a recent interview with Star Sports, Abhishek reacted to Gill being appointed as the Test captain of Team India. His response was both heartfelt and confident.

"Gill becoming the Test captain is a huge thing. I feel proud. We played cricket together, shared dreams, and today they’re coming true. He’s a top player across all three formats. I believe the team is in safe hands."

Abhishek’s words not only reflect his belief in Gill’s leadership, but also hint at the unity and strength of the new generation of Indian cricketers — one that supports and uplifts its own.

Gambhir, who is known for his sharp cricketing acumen and no-nonsense decision-making, has been closely involved in shaping the next phase of Indian cricket. If he backed Gill for this role — and Abhishek’s words are anything to go by — it appears Gambhir’s decision is already winning approval.

With India’s challenging England tour beginning June 20, this will be Shubman Gill’s first real test as captain in red-ball cricket. But if his leadership is anything like the faith shown by his closest confidants, Indian cricket may just be entering a bold new era.