India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill may have etched his name into the history books with a record-breaking performance at Edgbaston, but a different kind of spotlight followed him after cameras caught him sporting a Nike vest—potentially at odds with BCCI’s official apparel partnership with Adidas, according to multiple reports.
Nike vest moment sparks apparel controversy
On Day 4 of the second Test against England, with India holding a commanding lead, Gill emerged in a black Nike vest to declare the innings at 427/6, signaling Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to return to the pavilion. While the move itself was tactically sound, it raised eyebrows for reasons unrelated to cricketing strategy.
That’s because Gill’s choice of clothing appeared to contradict the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) exclusive apparel agreement with Adidas—Nike’s direct competitor.
In a 2023 statement when the deal was announced, BCCI had said: “The global sportswear brand will now design and manufacture jerseys, kits and other merchandise for India’s Men’s, Women’s, and U-19 teams. The contract, which runs through to March 2028, will give adidas exclusive rights for manufacturing kit across all formats of the game. adidas will be the sole supplier for all match, training & travel wear for the BCCI- including the men’s, women’s & youth teams.”
The incident quickly gained traction on social media, with fans questioning whether Gill had breached BCCI’s apparel policy. Several posts speculated on possible repercussions, even suggesting legal trouble for the young captain.
Hello @adidas Shubman Gill has violated your policy, take legal action against him. pic.twitter.com/6q3EDCA92N
— 🅂🄾🅄🄽 🚩 (@Mr_Exo45) July 6, 2025
using nike while our brand ambassador is adidas….shame on gill hope bcci takes action👍 https://t.co/kNMEJJPKQ7
— Madbruiser (@Madbruiser) July 5, 2025
Does the Adidas deal cover innerwear?
Despite the online stir, there appears to be ambiguity over whether Gill’s choice of innerwear constitutes a formal violation. While Adidas holds exclusive rights for all BCCI match and training wear, it’s unclear whether inner garments fall under this purview.
So far, no formal statement has been issued by the BCCI regarding the Edgbaston incident.
Record-breaking performance
The apparel incident somewhat overshadowed what was arguably one of the finest Test performances in India’s cricketing history. Gill scored a monumental 269 in the first innings, followed by a 161 in the second—making him the first batter in 148 years of Test cricket to notch both a double century and a 150 in the same match.
He also set multiple records, including the highest aggregate by an Indian in a single Test (430 runs), and surpassed Virat Kohli’s 254* to claim the record for the highest individual score by an India captain.
From Nike to Adidas: a changing kit legacy
Adidas replaced Nike as India’s kit sponsor in 2023, ending the latter’s 14-year run from 2006 to 2020. The transition was officially marked by Team India debuting the Adidas kit during the 2023 World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
Gill’s Nike vest, then, was more than just a personal choice—it symbolically touched on the broader shift in Indian cricket’s commercial landscape. Whether the incident leads to formal action or simply remains a footnote in a record-breaking Test remains to be seen.
