Shubman Gill started his Test captaincy times on a dream note as he hammered a wonderful century on debut as India's red-ball captain in the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds. When faced with Josh Tongue in the 75th over, Gill completed his hundred in style by dispatching a cover drive to four. The instant the ball sped to the fence, an ebullient Gill removed his helmet, bellowed "come on," and waved his bat in a mighty gesture of triumph.

The century with this knock made him just the fourth Indian captain following legends Gavaskar, Hazare, and Kohli, backed by a hundred in their debut Test skipper's match. Serene, collected, and almost blemish-free throughout the innings, Gill's century was the start of a new era in Indian Test cricket.

Shubman Gill became part of a very select group of Indian cricketers by making a hundred in his first-ever innings as Test captain. He joined an elite group as only the fourth Indian to do so. The names of legends such as Vijay Hazare, who made 164* vs England in 1951, Sunil Gavaskar with 116 vs New Zealand in 1976, and Virat Kohli, who scored 115 vs Australia in 2014, are on the list.

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Gill now joins the list by scoring a wonderful 102* vs England at Headingley in 2025. It was a steady and confident innings, a great beginning to his career as India's Test captain.

Shubman Gill asserted himself with the bat by registering a magnificent unbeaten 102 in the first Test against England at Headingley. Not just his first century as India's Test skipper, it was also his maiden hundred beyond Asia. Under pressure and in challenging English conditions, Gill proved to have great control, timing, and maturity during his innings.

The knock ended all speculation about his overseas performance and showed that he is capable of performing under the most pressure-cooker situations. It was a captain's innings par excellence unflustered, poised, and intent-laden just what India needed to welcome the new captain at the helm.