Shubman Gill has etched his name in cricket history, achieving a feat that eluded some of the most celebrated captains from Asia, including legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli. In only his second Test match as captain, Gill has demonstrated exceptional leadership and batting prowess, establishing a new benchmark for Asian captains in cricket.
Gill's record-breaking achievement came during the second Test of the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Edgbaston in Birmingham. He scored a double century, becoming the first Indian Test captain to achieve this milestone on English soil and across all SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). This feat is particularly significant as no other Asian captain has accomplished a double century in these challenging cricketing nations.
Before Gill, Virat Kohli held the record for the highest score by an Indian captain in Test matches overseas, with 200 against the West Indies in North Sound in 2016. While Kohli was the first Indian captain to register a double century away from home, Gill has surpassed this by becoming the first to do so specifically in England and among the SENA nations.
Gill's journey to this record-breaking moment began with a solid start to his captaincy career. In his debut Test match as captain at Leeds, he scored 147. Continuing his form, he achieved his highest score in the longest format and secured his maiden double century in the second match. His achievement also marks him as only the sixth visiting captain in history and the second in the 21st century to score a double century in England. The last suchinstance was by Graeme Smith in 2003. Furthermore, Gill is the second-youngest captain to score a double century in England, after Smith.
His innings of 200* has now surpassed Mohammad Azharuddin's 179 at Manchester in 1990 and Virat Kohli's 149 at Edgbaston in 2018, for the highest individual score by an Indian captain in England. Gill is also only the third Indian after Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid to score a double century on English soil.
Shubman Gill made his captaincy debut in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe in June 2024, immediately after India won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. In that series, Gill led India to a 4-1 victory and was also the highest run-scorer. He has experience leading an IPL franchise, having captained Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024. Gill also serves as the vice-captain for the ODI side.
Gill is being considered as a potential all-format captain for India in the coming years. He was appointed vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is for India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2024, indicating the management's faith in his leadership abilities.
Gill's recent accomplishments have solidified his position as a leader and a dynamic force in Indian cricket. His record-breaking double century not only demonstrates his individual brilliance but also highlights his potential to lead the team to further success.
