India, Sept. 11 -- A couple of days before their Asia Cup 2025 opener against India, Simranjeet Singh had reasonable doubts whether Shubman Gill would remember him. Gill was, after all, only 12 when Simranjeet had bowled to him at the nets in Mohali, Punjab. The India Test captain and T20I vice captain took only three balls to put an end to Simranjeet's worry during the India vs UAE Asia Cup Group A match in Dubai.

After hitting a boundary off the back foot on the third delivery of Simranjeet's first over to finish the match, Gill straightaway walked towards the experienced cricketer, shook his hands, and hugged him. Quite expectedly, Simranjeet greeted Gill with a warm smile.

The two go back a long way. Gill was taking baby steps into ...