'Not Many Have...': Manchester United Legend Pens Heartfelt Note For Shubman Gill

Last Updated:February 09, 2026, 17:09 IST

Rio Ferdinand lauds Shubman Gill's curiosity and humility after meeting him at Manchester United's victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Former England and Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand wrote an endearing note for India’s Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill, saying that not many young sportspersons have shown him their curious minds and that is what impressed him about Gill.

Ferdinand had earlier posted a picture with Gill on X, revealing that the India batter was ringside for Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

The timing raised eyebrows, with United’s game kicking off just an hour before India’s World Cup opener at the Wankhede Stadium, leaving fans wondering why Gill was watching football instead of backing his teammates.

“Shubman Gill – I meet a lot of sports stars on my travels, but not many have shown me their curious mind so quickly, like Shubman. After sitting down and ordering our soft drinks, I sensed curiosity through detailed questions about my football journey as a player, about leadership & relationships….all stemming from a huge desire (I felt) for Shubman to draw parallels where he could to apply to his world of cricket," Ferdinand wrote on an Instagram post.

Despite leading India across formats since his appointment in May 2025, Gill has struggled in T20Is. A lean run during the Asia Cup and the subsequent T20I series against South Africa led selectors to explore other options.

“Now, who knows what he takes from what I said or if anything I said resonates, but my point is for someone so young to quickly set about probing, questioning, exploring different things with the only aim being to better himself," Ferdinand said.

Gill is making full use of the lengthy break from international cricket and visibly, his global base has flourished.

“It was a refreshing moment given what he has achieved already at such a young age in the cricket world, yet he exudes humility on a level that you would normally associate with a guy on the come up with not much achieved," Ferdinand said.

News cricket 'Not Many Have...': Manchester United Legend Pens Heartfelt Note For Shubman Gill

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