Table of Contents
- Gill’s Masterclass Anchors India’s Dominance
- How Gill’s 2025 Stacks Up Against Kohli’s 2018
- Jaiswal Run-Out Sparks Brief Tension
- Jadeja & Kuldeep Strangle West Indies
- Gill’s Rise as India’s Young Leader
- Sources
Gill’s Masterclass Anchors India’s Dominance
Shubman Gill didn’t just score a century—he etched his name into Indian cricket history. The 26-year-old captain’s elegant 129 against the West Indies in the first Test at Queen’s Park Oval wasn’t just about runs; it was a statement of leadership, composure, and class under pressure.
Declaring at a mammoth 518/5, India handed their bowlers a commanding platform—and Gill’s innings was the cornerstone. Facing a pace-heavy Caribbean attack, he mixed textbook cover drives with deft late cuts, reaching his fifth Test century as captain in 2025 alone.
“He’s playing like he owns the crease—and the team,” said former India opener Virender Sehwag in a post-lunch commentary segment.
How Gill’s 2025 Stacks Up Against Kohli’s 2018
With this knock, Gill joined an exclusive club: only the second Indian captain after Virat Kohli to score five Test centuries in a single calendar year as skipper. Kohli achieved the feat in 2018—a golden year that saw India dominate overseas.
But Gill’s version comes with a twist: he’s doing it younger (Kohli was 29 in 2018), and in an era where captaincy demands managing multiple formats, IPL pressures, and a constantly rotating squad.
| Captain | Year | Centuries as Captain (Calendar Year) | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 2018 | 5 | 29 |
| Shubman Gill | 2025 | 5 | 26 |
Jaiswal Run-Out Sparks Brief Tension
The only blemish in India’s otherwise flawless batting display came when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 73 after a mix-up with Gill. Replays showed Gill had called for a risky second run, but Jaiswal hesitated mid-pitch.
While no words were exchanged on the field, social media lit up with debates over captain’s responsibility. Gill later deflected blame in a press huddle: “These things happen. Yashasvi batted brilliantly—we’ll learn and move on.”
Jadeja & Kuldeep Strangle West Indies
India’s spin duo turned the screws after tea on Day 2. Ravindra Jadeja (2/41) dismissed both openers with sharp turn, while Kuldeep Yadav (2/52) bamboozled the middle order with his wrist-spin variations.
West Indies limped to 140/4 at stumps, still trailing by 378 runs. With overcast conditions forecast for Day 3, India’s pace trio—Bumrah, Siraj, and Natarajan—could be lethal if the pitch offers any assistance.
Gill’s Rise as India’s Young Leader
Appointed full-time Test captain after Rohit Sharma’s ODI-focused transition, Gill has led in 11 Tests so far—winning 7, losing 2, and drawing 2. His win percentage (63.6%) already rivals Kohli’s early tenure.
More impressively, Gill averages 61.2 as captain—higher than his overall Test average of 54.8—suggesting he thrives under leadership responsibility.
“He’s not just scoring runs—he’s setting a culture,” said coach Gautam Gambhir. “Calm, focused, and always thinking two overs ahead.”
As India eyes a historic series win in the Caribbean, Gill’s blend of elegance and authority is proving to be the perfect recipe for a new era.