Shubman Gill is once again at the centre of attention—but not just for his on-field fireworks. The young Indian captain pulled off a masterclass at Edgbaston, smashing a double century in the first innings and following it up with another ton in the second. He stacked up a mammoth 269 runs in the first dig. Then returned with a blistering 161 before the innings wrapped. India had momentum with total dominance. The match had more than three sessions left. All signs pointed to them batting deep, but then… came an unexpected twist. A declaration in the 83rd over and a controversy nobody saw coming.
Gill walked out wearing black Nike tights. Yes, Nike with a clear white logo. Nothing wrong at first glance, right? Except that the tiny detail might just cost the BCCI ₹250 crores. Why? Because Adidas sponsors Team India, not its direct competitor, Nike. Under the terms of the current deal, all players are required to wear Adidas gear. So when the Indian captain walked out wearing a direct rival’s product, it raised eyebrows. Sources suggest Gill may’ve been in a hurry or possibly forgot. Maybe didn’t think it would matter, but it does. In sponsorships, every logo counts, and when that logo isn’t supposed to be there, it can cost.
Now, the BCCI might issue a show-cause notice to Shubman Gill asking him to explain the breach. Why didn’t he comply with sponsorship terms? Whether it was an oversight or something else entirely. Either way, the optics are messy. The stakes are high with that much money and visibility involved, even wearing the wrong tights becomes a serious issue.
Naturally, fans on social media weren’t going to miss it. Screenshots, comments, debates, it all blew up fast. The key question: Was it a contract breach? Or just an honest mistake?
The truth is, in marketing, actions often speak louder than contracts. We’ve seen it before. Celebrities endorse one brand, then use another in real life. It’s not always intentional, but it matters because influence is powerful and visible.
So, whether it was an innocent mistake or just poor timing, one thing’s clear: players, especially captains, don’t just play, they represent. In a world where cameras see everything, even a logo out of place can cost crores. Let’s see how BCCI handles this one.
