Manchester City striker gives signed football boots to India Test captain; video goes viral on social media
Indian cricketer Shubman Gill met Manchester City striker Erling Haaland recently. A video of their meeting went viral on social media on Thursday. Haaland gave his signed football boots to Gill during the interaction.
The Bharat Army, a group of Indian cricket supporters, posted the video on Instagram. The clip shows Gill and Haaland taking a photo together. Gill holds a Norwegian national team jersey in the video. The two athletes chat casually.
Neither Gill nor Haaland has shared the video or photos on their personal social media accounts. The exact date and location of the meeting remain unclear.
Why This Meeting Matters?
Gill is 26 years old. He captains India in Test and ODI cricket. He is a top-order batter with 2,843 runs in 40 Test matches at an average of 43.07. He scored 10 centuries in Test cricket.
Haaland is 25 years old. He joined Manchester City in July 2022. The Norwegian striker scored 149 goals in 171 matches for the club. This season, he has 28 goals in 29 matches across all competitions.
In their respective sports, both athletes are regarded as rising stars. The gathering demonstrates the increasing overlap between Indian football and cricket enthusiasts.
The Recent Career Background of Gill.
Gill was not included in India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The selectors announced the team earlier this week. Gill has played 36 T20 internationals and scored 869 runs at an average of 28.03.
His ODI record is stronger. He scored 2,818 runs in 58 matches at an average of 56.36. He made his ODI debut against New Zealand in 2019. He made his Test debut against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2020.
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Haaland’s Record Season
Haaland scored 52 goals in 53 matches during his first season at Manchester City in 2022 to 2023. He helped the club win the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League that year.
The current 2025 to 2026 season shows similar form. He has 28 goals and five assists in 29 appearances. His record includes appearances in domestic cups, the Champions League, and the Premier League.
Social Media Reaction
Within hours of its release, the video had thousands of views. Commenters on the exchange came from both football and cricket fans. Many called it a meeting of two future legends.
The Bharat Army account regularly posts content related to Indian cricket. The group travels to support India during overseas tours. They have over 500,000 followers on Instagram.
A fan account called Shubman Gill BTS also shared clips from the meeting. These fan pages often post content before official channels.
