Leading from the front, Indian Test captain Shubman Gill etched his name in history books with a century on captaincy debut and joined Virat Kohli in completing 2000 runs during the same landmark match.
In a landmark outing at Headingley, Leeds, Shubman Gill became the fourth Indian to score a century on his Test captaincy debut, joining the illustrious club of Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay Hazare, and Virat Kohli. The momentous Day 1 of the five-match Test series against England also saw the young skipper reach the milestone of 2,000 Test runs, marking a twin achievement as India began their 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle on a dominant note.
Century as Captain: A New Chapter Begins
On a day that saw Indian dominance with the bat, Gill remained a calm and composed figure at the crease. He reached his century in 140 balls, laced with 14 well-timed boundaries, asserting himself as a leader with both style and substance. The Leeds pitch, often hostile to foreign batters, looked tame under Gill’s confident strokeplay and control.
With this ton, Gill becomes the 23rd player in Test history to score a century in his debut innings as captain and the fourth youngest ever, after Herbie Taylor, Alastair Cook, and Steven Smith.
2000 Test Runs: Joining Kohli in Rare Feat
In the process of his memorable ton, Gill also crossed 2,000 Test runs, achieving the feat in 60 innings. Remarkably, like Virat Kohli, Gill brought up this milestone in his first Test as skipper, creating yet another point of parallel between two of India’s most promising batting captains across generations.
So far, his Test career includes:
- 33 Tests
- 2,020 runs
- 6 centuries
- 7 half-centuries
- Average: 37.40 (approx.)
Jaiswal Adds Fire to the Flame
While Gill anchored one end, Yashasvi Jaiswal provided the fireworks at the other. His fluent 101 off 159 deliveries, embellished with 16 boundaries and a six, was a display of class and confidence. The southpaw joined an elite group of Indian batters — including Ganguly, Dravid, and Tendulkar — to score a century in their first Test innings in England.
Jaiswal’s innings ended just after Tea, courtesy of England captain Ben Stokes, but not before setting the tone for India’s commanding position.
Session Highlights: India Takes Control
- 1st Session:
India finished at 92/2, losing KL Rahul for 42 after a strong 91-run opening stand. - 2nd Session:
Unbroken partnership of 123 runs between Gill and Jaiswal, ending the session at 215/2. - Day End:
India finished Day 1 at 359/3, with Gill unbeaten on 127 and Rishabh Pant on 65.
India’s Bright New Era Underway
With Gill stepping into leadership shoes and delivering immediately, and youngsters like Jaiswal and Pant firing in sync, India’s transition into the post-Kohli-Rohit era seems off to an exhilarating start. Their aggressive, positive playstyle echoed a ‘Bazball’ counter — one that’s even more potent.