Shubman Gill scripted history on Thursday, July 3, by becoming the highest-scoring Indian captain in Test cricket, surpassing Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 254 set against South Africa in 2019. The 25-year-old opener produced a stunning double century against England on Day 2 of the ongoing Test at Edgbaston, leading India to a commanding position in the five-match series.
Gill, who had come under heavy scrutiny prior to the series due to a poor Test record in England and questions over his leadership credentials, responded in emphatic style. After a composed 147 at Headingley, the young skipper followed it up with a masterful innings under pressure in Birmingham.
Coming to the crease with India in early trouble, Gill anchored the innings with maturity, building vital partnerships with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. His fluent strokeplay and calm temperament helped India recover and post a formidable first-innings total.
Gill’s marathon innings was not just a personal triumph but a record-breaking spectacle. He now holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batter outside the subcontinent, surpassing all previous benchmarks. In doing so, he also eclipsed Sunil Gavaskar’s long-standing record for the highest Test score by an Indian in England. At just 25 years of age, Gill further etched his name in the history books by becoming the second-youngest captain in Test cricket – after South Africa’s Graeme Smith – to score over 250 in a single innings.
With a strong total on the board, India now find themselves in a dominant position. Their batting unit, particularly the lower-middle order that struggled in the first Test, stepped up at Edgbaston. The focus now shifts to the bowling attack, which will be under the spotlight in the absence of lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
Gill, meanwhile, remains unbeaten and is eyeing another milestone – becoming the first Indian captain and only the third Indian overall to reach a triple century in Test cricket. As it stands, India are in the driver’s seat, with their young captain leading from the front in emphatic fashion.
