Start Indian batter Shubman Gill is set to start a new chapter in his cricketing career. The 25-year-old has been newly appointed as the Test skipper for Team India and will lead them in the upcoming Test series against England starting on June 20. Gill is expected to carry a lot of weight on his shoulders due to the growing expectations from him to deliver, both as a batter as well as a skipper. Gill becomes the 37th Test captain for India, replacing the 37-year-old Rohit Sharma, who had previously announced his retirement from this format prior to the England tour. 

Prior to the kick-off of the series, Gill is being targeted by a certain section of fans for having the "prince" inscription on his brand-new MRF bat. During a recent photoshoot, Gill showcased his new woodwork to the viewers, posing with India captain's blazer and cap. Furthermore, he also used the same willow in the recently concluded Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025). Apart from all the glitter, what came to everyone's immediate attention was the "Prince" engraving on his new bat. 

Gill is considered the Prince of Cricket, and many believe he could become the next big thing in Indian cricket. However, many fans believe that Gill hasn't reached Virat's stature yet, and it will require years of grind to achieve even a fraction of what the Chase Master has achieved. Hence, as a result, the criticism from some sections of the fans grew stronger, and they openly started criticising Gill for having that inscription.

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Here is how the fans reacted after seeing his inscription

🚨The Overhyped "Prince" of Indian Cricket🚨

Shubman Gill is so self-obsessed. Who even called you the Prince? A so-called 'Prince of ICT with a poor SENA record, a below 35 Test average, and zero overseas centuries across all formats after 5 years in his international career. pic.twitter.com/SKxiUKT0pa

— Niik (@Niiki099) June 11, 2025

Aura minus mein hai

— Lokesh Saini🚩 (@LokeshVirat18K) June 11, 2025

Gill will have to put these trolls behind him and focus on his major Test assignment that will likely define his future in the longest format. Gill had previously used the bat. His stats in England paint a worrisome picture as he averages just 14.66 in six innings, including the best score of just 28. Although his overall numbers against England are formidable to say the least, with two centuries against them, Gill is not really fond of playing in English conditions.