Indian captain Shubman Gill marked a memorable start to his Test captaincy tenure by smashing a brilliant century in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. Leading a new-look Indian side, Gill rose to the occasion with a composed and dominant knock.

Gill began his innings with aggressive intent, reaching his half-century in just 56 balls. He then continued to build on the momentum and brought up his maiden Test century on English soil in 142 deliveries. His innings included 16 boundaries and stood out for its fluency and control. This was his first Test hundred as captain—and it came in his very first match leading the side.

A Rare Feat at Headingley After 23 Years

With this century, Gill joined an elite list of Indian captains to score a Test century at Leeds. The last Indian skipper to achieve this was Sourav Ganguly in 2002, while Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had done it earlier in 1967.

164* – Vijay Hazare vs England, Delhi, 1951

116 – Sunil Gavaskar vs New Zealand, Auckland, 1976

115 – Virat Kohli vs Australia, Adelaide, 2014

102* – Shubman Gill vs England, Headingley, 2025

Gill has etched his name in the record books by becoming the ninth Indian and the youngest to score a half-century on his Test captaincy debut.

At just 25 years and 285 days, Gill reached this milestone during the ongoing Test series against England. Adding to the achievement, Gill also recorded the fastest fifty of his Test career, showcasing his aggressive intent and maturity as a leader.

This match marks a significant moment in his career, as he steps into the role of India’s Test captain following the retirement of Rohit Sharma.