Introduction: A New Era of Indian Cricket Begins with Gill at the Helm
With the retirements and absence of Indian cricket legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the spotlight turned to Shubman Gill — the young prodigy often referred to as the “Prince” of Indian cricket. And at Headingley, Leeds, in the first Test of the high-stakes Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Gill embraced the challenge and etched his name in the history books.
By smashing a century on captaincy debut, Gill not only proved his mettle as a batter but also signaled the beginning of a promising leadership era for Indian cricket. His knock of 116* on Day 1 was a masterclass in controlled aggression, poise, and intent — truly a kingly entrance into the captaincy club.
Century on Captaincy Debut: Shubman Gill Joins Elite List of Indian Greats
Shubman Gill became only the fifth Indian cricketer to score a Test century on captaincy debut — joining a prestigious list that includes:
| Player | Century on Captaincy Debut | Opponent | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vijay Hazare | 164 | England | 1951 | Delhi |
| Sunil Gavaskar | 111 | New Zealand | 1976 | Auckland |
| Dilip Vengsarkar | 102 | West Indies | 1987 | Delhi |
| Virat Kohli | 115 | Australia | 2014 | Adelaide |
| Shubman Gill | 116* | England | 2025 | Leeds |
Gill’s century is the first by an Indian captain in his debut Test match in the SENA countries.
🇮🇳 Gill’s Knock: Controlled Destruction Against England Pace
Coming in at No. 4, a position made iconic by Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Gill walked in during the second session with India 91/2 after KL Rahul and debutant Sai Sudharsan fell in quick succession.
From the very first ball, Gill looked composed, confident, and focused. He made quick work of any width offered by Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes, or Josh Tongue. His shot selection was clinical — drives through cover, elegant flicks off the pads, and signature back-foot punches.
Gill’s Century – Key Stats:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 116* |
| Balls Faced | 150 |
| Strike Rate | 77.3 |
| Fours | 17 |
| Sixes | 1 |
| Session | Day 1, Session 2 & 3 |
First Test Century in SENA Countries for Gill
Prior to this match, Shubman Gill’s centuries came in subcontinent conditions. While he impressed with a 91 at the Gabba in 2021, he hadn’t converted it into a century. His 116* at Headingley, therefore, marks his first-ever Test century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions.
| Country | Tests Played | Highest Score | Century |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | ✅ Yes | 116* (Leeds) | ✅ Yes |
| Australia | Yes | 91 | ❌ No |
| South Africa | Yes | 49 | ❌ No |
| New Zealand | No | N/A | ❌ No |
This innings finally answers critics who questioned whether Gill could deliver in swinging and seaming conditions abroad.
Leadership Under Pressure: A Glimpse into Gill’s Captaincy Style
Aside from his fluent batting, what stood out was Gill’s calm demeanor as captain. Unlike the aggressive, animated style of Virat Kohli or the tactical subtlety of MS Dhoni, Gill showcased a leadership persona that was measured, focused, and collaborative.
- Encouraged young players like Jaiswal and Sudharsan.
- Took bold decisions with field placements.
- Gave spinners attacking fields despite a seam-friendly pitch.
His century didn’t just inspire with the bat but also energized the Indian dressing room, providing the team with a blueprint for success in the post-Kohli-Rohit era.
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Indian Players with a Century on Captaincy Debut
| Player | Opponent | Venue | Year | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vijay Hazare | England | Delhi | 1951 | 164 | Draw |
| Sunil Gavaskar | New Zealand | Auckland | 1976 | 111 | Draw |
| Dilip Vengsarkar | West Indies | Delhi | 1987 | 102 | Lost |
| Virat Kohli | Australia | Adelaide | 2014 | 115 | Lost |
| Shubman Gill | England | Leeds | 2025 | 116* | Match ongoing |
Shubman Gill’s Test Century Record in SENA Countries
| Country | Venue | Year | Score | Notable Feat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Brisbane (Gabba) | 2021 | 91 | Missed century in famous chase |
| South Africa | Centurion | 2022 | 49 | Crucial knock on green track |
| England | Leeds | 2025 | 116* | First Test century in SENA |
| New Zealand | Yet to play | — | — | — |
India’s Top Performers on Day 1 – 1st Test vs England, Leeds 2025
| Batsman | Runs Scored | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 4s/6s | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 116* | 150 | 77.3 | 17 / 1 | Not Out |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 101 | 144 | 70.1 | 16 / 0 | Bowled (Stokes) |
| KL Rahul | 42 | 65 | 64.6 | 6 / 0 | Caught (Root) |
| Sai Sudharsan | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 / 0 | Bowled |
Shubman Gill Test Career Summary (as of June 2025)
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 25 |
| Total Test Runs | 1,834 |
| Centuries | 6 |
| Fifties | 7 |
| Highest Score | 128 |
| Captaincy Debut Century | Yes (116*) |
| SENA Test Century | Yes (England) |
| Batting Positions Played | Opener, No. 4 |
Gill-Jaiswal Partnership – Match-Defining Stand
| Partnership | Batters Involved | Runs Scored | Balls Faced | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Wicket Stand | Shubman Gill & Yashasvi Jaiswal | 129 | 201 | 3.85 |
Partnership with Jaiswal: New Guard Rises for India
One of the most defining moments of the innings was the 129-run partnership between Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Both young batters scored centuries on the same day, indicating the dawn of a new batting golden age for India.
| Partnership | Runs Scored | Balls Faced | Key Bowlers Tackled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gill-Jaiswal | 129 | 201 | Woakes, Tongue, Stokes |
While Jaiswal was aggressive early on, Gill’s ability to rotate strike and counterattack under pressure stood out.
Shubman Gill Test Career Stats (Updated: June 2025)
| Matches | Runs | Centuries | Fifties | Highest Score | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1,834 | 6 | 7 | 128 | 49.56 |
His average of nearly 50, combined with his versatility across positions (Opener and No.4), makes Gill one of India’s most valuable red-ball batters today.
Conclusion: A Royal Beginning to a New Chapter
Shubman Gill’s century on his captaincy debut against England was not just about numbers. It was a statement of intent, class, and maturity — qualities essential for long-term success both as a batter and a leader. With the bat in his hand and the captain’s armband on his arm, Gill has officially transitioned from the future of Indian cricket to its present leader.
As the series progresses, all eyes will remain on him — not just for his shot-making, but for the strategic decisions and character he brings to a young Indian side in transition.