India captain Shubman Gill made history on Saturday by scoring his maiden Test century as captain during the second Test against the West Indies in Delhi.
With this innings, Gill surpassed Virat Kohli’s record and went past Sachin Tendulkar’s milestone, marking a new chapter in Indian cricket.
A Composed Century After a Mix-Up
The day began on a difficult note for Gill. He was involved in the run-out of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was batting on 175.
Despite the setback, the 24-year-old stayed calm and focused.
He rebuilt his innings with patience and confidence.
In the second session, Gill brought up his 10th Test century to loud cheers from the Delhi crowd.
Records Tumble as Gill Reaches New Heights
This was Gill’s fifth Test century as captain in just 12 innings.
He became the second-fastest Indian and the third overall to achieve this.
Only Alastair Cook (9 innings) and Sunil Gavaskar (10 innings) reached five centuries faster.
Gill also joined an elite list of Indian captains who have scored five Test centuries in a single year. Only Virat Kohli had done it twice before. Gill achieved the mark faster — in just 12 innings, compared to Kohli’s 18.
So far, he has scored 933 runs as Test captain at a stunning average of 84.
Fluent Batting and Key Partnerships
Gill’s innings was filled with elegant shots. He struck 16 boundaries and two sixes, reaching his century with a stylish cover drive off Khary Pierre. This was also his highest Test score at home, surpassing his 128 against Australia in 2023.
He built strong partnerships throughout the day —
a 91-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy (43) and a 102-run partnership with Dhruv Jurel (44). These helped India maintain control despite early pressure.
Jaiswal’s Run-Out: A Missed Double Century
Earlier, India suffered a blow when Jaiswal was run out due to a mix-up with Gill. Jaiswal pushed the ball to mid-off and attempted a quick single.
Gill hesitated, leaving Jaiswal stranded mid-pitch.
The left-hander fell short of what could have been his third double century. Despite the moment, Gill stayed composed and guided India through the session.
West Indies Bowlers Struggle
The West Indies bowlers found it hard to contain India’s batting.
Jomel Warrican stood out with three wickets.
He dismissed Reddy and KL Rahul, but also suffered frustration when Anderson Phillip dropped a simple catch.
Roston Chase bowled Dhruv Jurel towards the end, after which Gill declared India’s innings.
India in Commanding Position
Having won the first Test by an innings, India now hold a strong position to sweep the two-match series.
Gill’s leadership and consistency have given India a solid foundation.
His latest century highlights not only his batting brilliance but also his maturity as captain.
