Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand praised India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill after meeting him in Paris on Monday, describing the young cricketer as curious and remarkably humble.
Ferdinand, who spent time with Gill while watching Manchester United’s win over Tottenham Hotspur in Paris, he later took to Instagram to share his thoughts. The former centre-back said that although he meets many elite athletes during his travels, very few of them have shown the level of curiosity that Gill displayed during their interaction.
“I meet many sports stars in my travels, but few have been as quick to show me their inquisitive mind as Shubman. As I sat down and ordered our soft drinks, I sensed curiosity through detailed questions about my football journey as a player, about leadership and relationships, all stemming from a huge desire (I felt) for Shubman to draw parallels where he could apply to his world of cricket or what he would answer, but now who knows what he says, is from cricket. for someone so young to be quick to explore, to question, to explore different things with the sole aim of improving,” Ferdinand wrote.
The former England international also underlined Gill’s grounded nature despite his achievements at a young age.
“It was a refreshing moment considering what he has already achieved in the cricketing world at such a young age, yet he exudes a level of humility that you would normally associate with a lad who didn’t achieve much when he arrived. It has inspired me to come to India again…this time I will be there in the not too distant future…India, watch this space!!!” he added.
Widely regarded as one of England’s best defenders, Ferdinand made 81 appearances for his country between 1997 and 2011 and featured in three FIFA World Cup squads. During his decorated time at Manchester United, he won six Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League crown and the FIFA Club World Cup, along with numerous domestic trophies.
Gill, meanwhile, will make his debut in the 2026 season in the Indian Premier League, captaining Gujarat Titans. The tournament is scheduled to begin on March 26.
In the previous edition, the 26-year-old enjoyed an impressive campaign, scoring 650 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 155.88. He finished as the fourth highest run-getter in IPL 2025, cementing his status as one of India’s leading batsmen across formats.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 9, 2026
