Shubman Gill's captaincy debut for India in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, has been nothing short of spectacular. The young captain marked the occasion with a magnificent century, leading India to a dominant position on the first day of the five-match series. Gill's performance not only solidified his place in the team but also etched his name in the record books, joining an elite list of Indian cricketers who have scored a century on their Test captaincy debut.

At 25 years old, Gill has become the fourth Indian to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of Vijay Hazare, who scored 164* against England in Delhi in 1951, Sunil Gavaskar, who hit 116 against New Zealand in Auckland in 1976, and Virat Kohli, who scored 115 against Australia in Adelaide in 2014. Gill's century also makes him the fourth youngest player overall to score a century in his first match as captain. Gill's innings was a blend of poise and aggression. He brought up his fastest Test fifty off just 56 balls, showcasing his intent to keep the scoreboard moving. His innings was studded with trademark drives and confident footwork against both pace and spin.

The day belonged to India, with Yashasvi Jaiswal also scoring a century. Jaiswal and Gill's twin centuries put India in a commanding position, finishing the day at 359/3. Rishabh Pant also contributed significantly, remaining unbeaten on 65 at the end of the day's play.

Gill's journey to captaincy began after Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket. Despite some reservations about his overseas record, Gill silenced critics with his remarkable performance. His century is only his second Test century outside India, proving his mettle in challenging conditions.

Former cricketer Yograj Singh emphasized that Gill needs to lead from the front, much like Kapil Dev in the 1983 World Cup. Gill's performance on the first day indicates that he is ready to take on this responsibility and guide the team forward.

The first day of the Test series saw India's dominance, with England struggling to contain the Indian batsmen. The English bowlers, including Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir, remained wicketless, highlighting the challenge they face in this series. Sachin Tendulkar has predicted a 3-1 series win for India, expressing confidence in the team's new-look batting unit under Gill's leadership.

As Gill continues his innings on the second day, he has the opportunity to build on his century and further solidify India's position in the Test. His performance has not only set the tone for the series but has also marked the beginning of a promising new era for Indian cricket under his captaincy.