The new generation carrying the Indian Test team has wiped out the noise in the third session of the first test against England at Headingley, Leeds. A historic moment arrived when the newly appointed Indian skipper, Shubman Gill, cleared the boundary on the off side and waved his bat in the sky to get registered as a fifth Indian player in Test format with a hundred on his Test captaincy debut. With this captain’s knock, Gill has joined the elite club, showcasing that India has a bright future in the Test format after Virat Kohli’s retirement.
Fifth Indian to score a century in Test Captaincy Debut: Shubman Gill
Before the stumps for the first day, Shubman Gill scripted history, shining with sheer confidence with an unbeaten 127 off 175 balls on June 20. It was a second hundred on the same day as the opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is playing his first Test match in England, tore apart Ben Stokes’ led bowling attack with his stunning 101 (159). In the flashbacks, the Indian team celebrated four other centuries in the debut match as a Test captain as former skippers, including Virat Kohli, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Vijay Hazare, achieved this feat from the most recent to historic times.
What makes this century a milestone to remember in Indian cricket history is that Gill has gracefully stamped authority without a dent of fear amid critics questioning his readiness as a Test captain, given he brings a lack of experience as he is playing his 33rd match in red-ball cricket. Interestingly, Virat Kohli was sworn in as a full-time Test captain when he appeared in his 24th Test match to not only bat, but also lead against Australia in the first Test in Adelaide in 2014. The run machine, Kohli delivered tons (141, 115) in both innings while batting at number 4, but drastically, the team missed the glorious chance to win the match by a harsh distance of 48 runs.
Resemblance to Virat Kohli after Test Retirement
A 25-year-old Shubman Gill also walked in to play at number 4 on Friday, leaving behind a series of nostalgic moments for Kohli, who would be the front-runner at the same age after the fall of two wickets. Kohli also marked his ton in overseas conditions when he made a Test captaincy debut, replying to chaotic statements in style.
A logical question pops into the mind of cricket lovers that whether Shubman Gill can surpass Virat Kohli after a blazing ton. Virat Kohli’s highest score as a Test captain is 254* against South Africa in Pune in 2019. As Shubman Gill’s Test career just took off, he will be on his way to fill the gaps with match-defining innings and on-field strategies. His highest score as a Test batter is 128, coming against Australia in 2023 at Narendra Modi Stadium, where Virat Kohli defined his aura again with a brilliant 186-run knock, leading to a draw match.
What’s next for Indian Test Captain Shubman Gill?
As time passes by, Shubman Gill is expected to go a long way with a clear focus on the World Test Championship 2025-27 (WTC 2025-27) to propel India moving up the ranks from the 4th spot to becoming Test Champions, something which Virat Kohli’s portfolio, marking an epic era from 2014 to 2022 before stepping down as a Test skipper, draws significant attention.
Notably, Virat Kohli stepped in as an Indian captain in 20 Test matches played outside India and became the most successful Test skipper in overseas venues with a noteworthy win percentage of 44.44% as India won 16 matches out of 36 games. Additionally, Kohli played 68 Test matches as a Test skipper and registered remarkable victories on 40 occasions, with a whopping win percentage of 58.82. Following Gill’s blazing century in his first match as a Test skipper, fans and cricket experts will watch how India performs in home conditions, especially at overseas venues, a hot topic that is an all-time discussion.
As the first Test match between England and India will resume on the second day on 21 June, all eyes will be on Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, who batted elegantly and drove India beyond 300 runs after two early and delicate dismissals.
Shubman Gill: 127*. Rishabh Pant: 65*. India 359/3 at stumps
