July 03, 2025: Shubman Gill carved his name into cricketing history on Thursday by becoming the first Indian captain to score a double century in a Test match in England. Leading India in the ongoing five-match Test series, Gill reached the milestone during the first innings of the second Test at Edgbaston, completing his double hundred with a single off his 311th delivery after initially reaching the 150-mark with a single off his 263rd ball.
Previously, the highest score by an Indian skipper in England belonged to Mohammad Azharuddin, who struck a sublime 179 at Old Trafford in 1990.
Gill’s achievement surpasses Azhar’s long-standing record and places him among India’s elite captains who have scored double hundreds in Tests, joining the likes of MAK Pataudi, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and MS Dhoni. Virat Kohli, however, remains the Indian captain with the most double centuries, having amassed seven during his tenure.
Gill, who had already impressed with a century (147) on his captaincy debut at Leeds, hammered 21 fours and two sixes during his majestic knock at Edgbaston. He also became just the third Indian batter after Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid to register a double century in England, cementing his place among India’s modern greats.
Before Gill’s feat, the highest score by an Indian captain in a SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) country was Azharuddin’s 192 against New Zealand in Auckland in 1990. Gill’s innings not only set a new benchmark for Indian captains in England but also showcased his growing stature as a leader in red-ball cricket.