Shubman Gill, India’s Test captain, etched his name in cricket history by scoring his fifth Test century of the year during the second Test against West Indies in Delhi. The 26-year-old reached his maiden home Test hundred in 177 balls on Day 2, dominating the West Indies bowling attack and leading India to a commanding position. This achievement places Gill in rare company, matching Virat Kohli’s feat of five Test centuries in a calendar year as captain, a record Kohli set in 2017 and 2018. Gill’s milestone, achieved in his first home Test series as captain, underscores his meteoric rise since taking over from Rohit Sharma in 2025.
Gill’s 2025 heroics include four centuries scored during India’s tour of England earlier in the year, with the Delhi ton marking his fifth as captain. This places him ahead of legendary Indian captains like Sunil Gavaskar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and Rohit Sharma, none of whom achieved this strike rate in a single year while leading in Tests. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) celebrated the moment on X, posting, “A ton to savour from the #TeamIndia skipper. His first as Captain on home soil.”
The India-West Indies Test rivalry has been a showcase of Indian batting dominance, with 25 centuries scored in the last 14 Tests since 2013, 23 by Indian batters. West Indies’ Roston Chase is the only Caribbean player to score centuries in this period, with two to his name. Gill’s latest ton further highlights the gulf between the two sides, as Indian batters consistently convert starts into big scores.
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Assuming the captaincy after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket, Gill has thrived despite the absence of these leadership mentors. His 2025 performance, including this landmark century, signals a new era for Indian cricket, with Gill emerging as a formidable leader and batsman. As India presses for a series sweep, Gill’s record-equaling feat cements his place among the nation’s cricketing elite.
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