The Birmingham Test between India and England in July 2025 will be remembered as Shubman Gill's defining moment. Not only did India secure a historic 336-run victory, their first-ever Test win at Edgbaston, but Gill also etched his name in the record books with an array of unprecedented achievements. His remarkable performance with the bat, combined with astute captaincy, ensured that the match belonged to him.
Gill's dominance was built upon twin centuries of the highest order. He began with a commanding 269 in the first innings, a marathon effort of 387 balls that wore down the English bowlers. He then followed it up with a blistering 161 off just 162 balls in the second innings, showcasing his ability to accelerate and put the game beyond England's reach. These two knocks resulted in an aggregate of 430 runs, the second-highest by any batter in a single Test match, only behind Graham Gooch's 456 against India in 1990. This also marked the first instance of a batter scoring a 250-plus and 150-plus score in the same Test. Gill also became only the second Indian after Sunil Gavaskar to hit a double century and a century in the same Test.
In the process, Gill overtook several records previously held by Virat Kohli. His 269 surpassed Kohli's unbeaten 254 against South Africa in 2019, becoming the highest score by an Indian captain in Test cricket. Gill also broke Kohli's record for the most runs scored in his first two Tests as captain. Gill amassed 585 runs compared to Kohli's 449. Furthermore, Gill now holds the record for most runs in a debut Test series as India's captain. He scored 460 runs in four innings, surpassing Kohli's previous record.
Gill's record-breaking spree extended beyond Kohli. His 269 is now the highest score by any Indian batter outside Asia, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's 241* against Australia in Sydney in 2004. It is also the highest Test score by an Indian batter in England, beating Sunil Gavaskar's 221 at The Oval in 1979. Gill also became the first Asian captain to hit a double century in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries. Gill was the seventh batter to score centuries in his first two Tests as captain - joining a list that includes Kohli, Gavaskar, Cook, Smith, Hazare, and McGlew. He is also the second-youngest Indian captain to make a double century in Test cricket.
Beyond the individual records, Gill's performance had a significant impact on the match. His 430 runs helped India score 1000 runs in a Test match for the first time in their cricketing history. India set England a daunting target of 608, which ultimately proved too much as the hosts were bundled out for 271. This victory was India's first-ever Test triumph in Birmingham, breaking a winless streak of nine matches at the venue.
The Birmingham Test also highlighted Gill's potential as a leader. After Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket, India made a bold decision by naming Gill as the new skipper. Despite questions about his experience in SENA countries, Gill silenced his critics with his performance at Edgbaston. He led the team with composure and inspired his teammates to perform at their best. Mohammed Siraj's six-wicket haul in the first innings and Akash Deep's ten-wicket match haul were testament to Gill's ability to motivate his team. With Jasprit Bumrah rested, Gill eloquently praised his fast bowlers, proving India can take 20 wickets even without their best bowler. India became the first Asian team in 63 years to win a Test in Birmingham.
