Thala not the reason! Shubman Gill reveals reason why his jersey number is 77

India Test captain Shubman Gill celebrated his 26th birthday on Monday by sharing personal stories about his cricketing journey — from his jersey number to his on-field rivalries.

In a video posted by Star Sports on X, Gill revealed how his jersey number came about.

“My jersey number is 77, and the reason behind getting it was when I played the Under-19 World Cup and wanted number seven, but it wasn't available, so I took two sevens,” he said.


The opener credited batting legend Sachin Tendulkar as his childhood idol, while naming Virat Kohli as his current favourite. “My cricketing idol growing up was Sachin sir. My current favourite cricketer is Virat Kohli. My best friend in the team is Ishan Kishan,” Gill said.

Among the duels he enjoys most, Gill singled out the challenge of facing Jasprit Bumrah in the nets. “One battle I enjoy the most is facing Bumrah in the nets. He is always on you, and he never gives you an inch. He always wants to intimidate you, show you that he is the best,” Gill said.

He also opened up about his nickname and the role of his family. “My nickname is Kaka, which in Punjabi means baby. The first person I call after winning the match is my dad. One thing I can't live without is my family,” he added.

Since making his debut, Gill has played 37 Tests, scoring 2,647 runs at an average of 41.35. In ODIs, he has 2,775 runs from 55 matches at 59.04, while in T20Is he has 578 runs in 21 games. He will next feature in the Asia Cup, serving as vice-captain under Suryakumar Yadav.