IND vs ENG: Shubman Gill matches Virat Kohli’s feat, joins elite club with century on Test captaincy debut | Cricket News

Shubman Gill (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Shubman Gill couldn’t have scripted a greater starting to his tenure as India’s Test captain. On Day 1 of the primary Test towards England at Headingley, the 25-year-old marked his management debut in model, slamming a composed and assured hundred to change into solely the fourth Indian to attain a century in his first innings as Test skipper.Live Score: India vs England, 1st Test Day 1Gill joined the elite record of Vijay Hazare (164* vs England, 1951), Sunil Gavaskar (116 vs New Zealand, 1976), and Virat Kohli (115 vs Australia, 2014), cementing his place in India’s captaincy folklore. He can be the twenty third batter general in Test historical past to register a century on captaincy debut.Walking in at a fragile juncture after the dismissal of KL Rahul (42), Gill steadied the innings with fellow younger gun Yashasvi Jaiswal, forging a significant 129-run partnership. While Jaiswal performed with his normal aptitude en path to a 101, Gill was the image of poise, mixing self-discipline with class as he reached his century in 140 balls, laced with 14 boundaries.He introduced up his quickest Test fifty off simply 56 balls, highlighting an intent to maintain the scoreboard shifting. His innings was dotted with trademark drives and assured footwork towards each tempo and spin. The milestone fifty got here with a commanding stroke by way of covers off Josh Tongue — a becoming image of his authority on the day.At 25 years and 285 days, Gill additionally grew to become the youngest Indian to attain a fifty on Test captaincy debut, and solely the ninth general from India to take action.Leading a workforce in transition after the retirements of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R. Ashwin, Gill’s debut knock as captain alerts a brand new chapter for Indian cricket – one constructed on composure, readability, and sophistication. Earlier, England captain Ben Stokes received the toss and elected to bowl beneath clear skies. India handed out a debut to left-hander Sai Sudharsan at No. 3 and recalled Karun Nair after eight years.