Leeds, June 21, 2025 – Shubman Gill marked his debut as India’s Test captain with a commanding century on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Headingley, steering India to a dominant 359/3. His elegant 127 not out, paired with a fiery celebration, set the tone for a new era in Indian cricket and left England’s bowlers searching for answers.
Gill walked in at 92/2 after quick dismissals of KL Rahul (42) and debutant Sai Sudharsan (0) before lunch. Partnering with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 101, Gill built a crucial 129-run stand for the third wicket. His innings was a masterclass in control, starting with a brisk fifty off just 56 balls – his fastest in Test cricket. He reached his century in 140 balls, driving a Josh Tongue half-volley through cover for four, then unleashing a passionate celebration: helmet off, a fierce wave to the crowd, and a loud “come on” that echoed his intent. Social media buzzed, with one X post noting, “Gill’s 100 on captaincy debut – joins legends like Gavaskar and Kohli!”
The 25-year-old’s knock included crisp boundaries, with eight in his fifty and a total of 12 by stumps. Standing outside his crease to counter movement, Gill looked at ease against England’s pace attack, led by Ben Stokes, who took two wickets but couldn’t halt India’s charge. Gill’s fluency allowed Jaiswal to settle, and later, he forged an unbeaten 138-run partnership with Rishabh Pant, who was 65 not out. This was Gill’s sixth Test century, his first outside Asia, and made him the fifth Indian to score a ton on Test captaincy debut, alongside Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, and Virat Kohli.
England’s decision to bowl first under Stokes raised eyebrows, especially on a dry Headingley pitch offering little for bowlers. Former England captain Alastair Cook suggested on BBC that Stokes may have misread the conditions. Gill himself noted at the toss he would’ve bowled too, but his batting silenced any doubts about his leadership or form, especially after a lean Border-Gavaskar Trophy where he averaged just 18.6.
By stumps, Gill had crossed 2,000 Test runs, becoming the second Indian to do so in his first match as captain, after Kohli. His innings answered critics who questioned his Test credentials in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions, with ESPNcricinfo praising his “flawless” knock at No. 4, a position long held by icons like Sachin Tendulkar and Kohli. A close call came early when Ollie Pope missed a run-out chance with Gill on one, but he made England pay.
As India resumed on Day 2, Gill pushed his score to 147 before falling to Shoaib Bashir, caught by Josh Tongue, ending a 150-plus stand with Pant. His knock laid a strong foundation, with fans on X calling it “the start of the Gill era.” With Pant’s century and India’s total climbing, Gill’s debut as captain has set a high bar for this five-Test series.
