Yuvraj Singh has expressed his condolences after the death of former Punjab cricketer Amanpreet Singh Gill at the age of 36, reflecting on shared early days in cricket and describing him as a calm, committed player who genuinely loved the sport.
Key takeaways
- Yuvraj Singh paid tribute to Amanpreet Singh Gill after his passing at 36.
- Gill was remembered as a quiet, hardworking cricketer who shared a dressing room with Yuvraj in their early careers.
- Amanpreet Gill came through Punjab’s age-group and domestic system and featured in India Under-19 cricket.
- He played Under-19 internationals in a 2007 Sri Lanka tri-series, taking nine wickets across five innings at an average of 9.44.
- After his playing days, Gill stayed involved with Punjab cricket as a senior selector.
- Punjab Kings players wore black armbands during their IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad as a mark of respect.
Yuvraj’s message and the respect shown by Punjab Kings
In a post remembering Gill, Yuvraj said he was “deeply saddened” by the news and noted that the two had spent time together in the dressing room during their early days. He described Gill as someone who kept to himself, worked hard, and remained passionate about cricket. Yuvraj extended condolences to Gill’s family and loved ones, and wished peace for the departed, also tagging the Punjab Cricket Association.
Gill’s death quickly brought focus back to his journey through Punjab cricket and the wider Indian setup. While he was not a widely known international figure, his career touched multiple important stages: the Under-19 pathway, first-class cricket for Punjab, an early connection with Kings XI Punjab in the IPL, and later a role in the state system as part of the senior selection structure.
Who was Amanpreet Singh Gill?
Amanpreet Singh Gill, born on September 16, 1989, in Chandigarh, was a right-arm medium pacer who also batted right-handed. His bowling profile was built around seam movement, and he progressed through Punjab’s age-group ranks and domestic circuit during a period when several players from the same system were pushing toward national recognition.
At the national level, Gill’s clearest link came through India’s Under-19 team. He belonged to the same Under-19 generation as Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey, and Saurabh Tiwary. Gill represented India Under-19s in the 2007 tri-series in Sri Lanka, which included matches against Sri Lanka Under-19s and Bangladesh Under-19s. He produced an impactful bowling showing, claiming nine wickets in five innings at an average of 9.44.
In the final against Bangladesh Under-19s at Colombo, India secured victory by 129 runs. Gill contributed with figures of 2 for 14 from six overs as the team wrapped up the tournament title.
Domestic cricket, IPL connection, and life after playing
In the senior domestic circuit, Gill played first-class cricket for Punjab. Although his first-class stint was relatively brief, he remained part of Punjab’s seam-bowling pool in the late 2000s. Across six first-class matches, he took 11 wickets, with his best returns reading 4 for 72.
Gill was also connected to Kings XI Punjab during the franchise’s early IPL years, a period when he was part of the setup but did not establish himself as a regular in the tournament’s playing XI. That association with the Punjab franchise helps explain the dressing-room bond Yuvraj recalled, especially since Yuvraj was one of the biggest names in Punjab cricket during that era.
After his playing career ended, Gill continued to contribute through Punjab’s cricket structure. The Punjab Cricket Association described him as a former Punjab cricketer and a member of the Senior Selection Committee, highlighting that he remained connected to the state’s talent pathway even after stepping away from the field.
His influence was also acknowledged during IPL 2026. Punjab Kings players wore black armbands in their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad as a sign of respect following Gill’s death—an act that underlined his place within the Punjab cricket ecosystem, where his role had evolved from player to selector.
A cricket life beyond the spotlight
Gill’s overall numbers did not place him among the most visible names in Indian cricket, but his career reflected a common and important path in the sport: representing India at age-group level, playing for Punjab, entering an IPL dressing room during the league’s formative phase, and later supporting the same system through selection work.
For Punjab cricket, Amanpreet Singh Gill’s passing is being mourned not only as the loss of a former player, but also as the loss of someone who continued working for the game in multiple roles. His death at 36 is remembered both as the end of a cricketer’s journey and as the loss of a loyal contributor to Punjab cricket long after his playing days were over.
