Virat Kohli, India's star batter, on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the death of his former India Under-19 teammate Amanpreet Singh Gill, who passed away at age 36 in Chandigarh. The cricketer's sudden demise has sent shockwaves through the cricket fraternity, with tributes pouring in from across the sport.

Kohli took to social media to pay his respects. "Shocked and saddened to hear about Amanpreet Gill's passing. Sending prayers and strength to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace. Om Shanti," the Delhi Capitals batter wrote on X, reflecting on their shared time in India's youth setup during their formative years.

Gill's cricketing journey

Amanpreet Singh Gill was a right-arm medium pacer who represented Punjab in six first-class matches and featured for Kings XI Punjab in the inaugural IPL season. Though his domestic career remained modest in scope, Gill had represented India at youth level across multiple ODIs and a three-day youth Test in 2007, touring England, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. Notably, he did not make the cut for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2008 squad that Kohli captained to victory.

Tributes from cricket fraternity

The Punjab Cricket Association issued an official statement mourning Gill's loss. "The Punjab Cricket Association deeply mourns the sad loss of Amanpreet Singh Gill, former Punjab cricketer and Member of the Senior Selection Committee, Punjab. He served Punjab cricket with dedication and passion," the PCA said, noting his contributions across multiple levels of the sport.

Former opener Shikhar Dhawan also expressed sorrow. "Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former Punjab cricketer Amanpreet Singh Gill at such a young age. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who knew him. Om Shanti," Dhawan wrote on social media.

Yuvraj Singh, the former India all-rounder, shared a personal reflection on his bond with Gill. "Deeply saddened to hear about Amanpreet Singh Gill's passing. Shared the dressing room in our early days, he was a quiet, hardworking cricketer who loved the game. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace. Om Shanti," Yuvraj posted, highlighting Gill's understated dedication to cricket.

Final rites

According to the PCA statement, Gill's cremation was scheduled to take place at the Manimajra Cremation Ground in Chandigarh. The association extended its condolences to his family and prayed for their strength during the difficult period.

Gill's passing marks another loss for a generation of cricketers who came through India's youth system in the mid-2000s, many of whom went on to represent the country at the highest level.