Shubman Gill does a Lionel Messi: Fans go ‘GaGa’ before Asia Cup 2025

Shubman Gill's photoshoot with a chessboard ahead of the Asia Cup has ignited intriguing connection between Lionel Messi and Gill, highlighting the cricketer's future greatness with the Indian team.

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The worlds of sports and strategy have found an unexpected connection through two of the modern greats: Lionel Messi and Shubman Gill. A recent tweet highlighted this intriguing link, noting how Messi, a legend of football, was famously seen with a chessboard, and now Shubman Gill, the rising star of Indian cricket, appears to share a similar pose.

What happened?

During the photoshoot ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, the Indian cricket team’s test captain and T20I vice captain posed with a chessboard, just like football great Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi posed with a chessboard in November 2022 as part of a Louis Vuitton campaign for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

Indian cricket team fans have now started comparing Gill’s future and skill with someone like Lionel Messi, who literally won everything in football history.

Read Also: 5 unknown stars to watch out for in Asia Cup 2025

Gill to open for India in Asia Cup 2025

Despite previously experimenting with various opening combinations in T20Is, the Indian cricket team's latest squad announcement, naming Shubman Gill as vice-captain, confirms that Gill will open alongside Abhishek Sharma in the Asia Cup 2025.

In that case, Sanju Samson’s position in the playing XI is put into question. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels Sanju will find a place in the squad, but has to bat down the order.

However, with the videos circulating on social media platforms of Jitesh Sharma practising hard, Sanju might have to sit down for the first matches. With Gill coming into the playing XI, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was in the 2024 T20 World Cup squad for India, has to sit out of the squad as well.

Read Also: Top 5 most runs in Asia Cup history (men's ODI + T20Is)

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