Shubman Gill Hits Century on Test Captaincy Debut Against England
Shubman Gill made an impressive start as India's new Test captain, scoring an unbeaten 127 on the first day of the Test against England in Leeds. His century, the first by an Indian captain on debut since Virat Kohli, anchored India to 359/3. Gill's composed and authoritative innings demonstrated leadership from the front, setting a positive tone for his captaincy tenure.
Unpacked:
Shubman Gill was appointed Test captain following Rohit Sharma's retirement. The selectors saw leadership potential in Gill, and despite initial concerns about his overseas batting record, his appointment marked a transition to a younger leadership era for Indian cricket.
Gill became only the fourth Indian to score a century in his debut innings as Test captain, joining the ranks of Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, and Virat Kohli. This achievement highlights his strong start and puts him in elite company, showing leadership and batting prowess from the outset.
Before this match, Gill's overseas Test record was seen as a weakness, with only one prior Test century outside India. His unbeaten 127 at Headingley helped address doubts about his performance abroad and demonstrated his adaptability and temperament in foreign conditions.
Under Gill's leadership, India ended the first day at 359/3, with both Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring centuries. The strong start reflected a positive transition for the team despite the absence of experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.