India’s young cricket star Shubman Gill took charge as Test captain for the first time in the ongoing India vs England match at Headingley on 22 June 2025. From smart field settings to emotional celebrations, Gill showed a fresh and aggressive leadership style that reminded many of a young Virat Kohli.
Gill’s Confidence Shows in Field Decisions
During England’s innings, India set a clear plan using short-pitched bowling to attack the batters. The highlight came when Jamie Smith tried to go for big shots against Famous Krishna. After hitting a six, many expected India to shift their field. But Gill did not move a single fielder. He kept Ravindra Jadeja at deep mid-wicket and Sai Sudharsan at deep square leg, trusting his bowlers to stick to the plan.
Two balls later, Smith again tried to hit the short ball but mistimed it. Jadeja caught the ball on the boundary line but was about to fall over. He smartly passed the ball to Sudharsan, who completed the catch safely. The crowd at Headingley cheered loudly for this clever team effort.
Famous Krishna and Siraj Deliver Important Wickets
Famous Krishna, who had gone wicketless earlier in the match, bounced back strongly. He dismissed two key players – Ollie Pope (106) and Jamie Smith (40).
Mohammed Siraj also struck an important blow by getting Ben Stokes out for 20 runs. These wickets slowed down England’s momentum and brought India back in control.
India had already set a strong base in the first innings, scoring 471 runs, thanks to centuries by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant. This gave the bowlers the confidence and space to experiment.
Gill’s Emotional Celebration Caught Attention
Gill, who is usually calm and composed, showed a different side of his personality on the field. When Siraj bowled Joe Root and the umpire gave him out, Gill ran up to him, celebrating with full energy.
Even though the decision was later reversed on DRS, Gill’s passionate reaction became a talking point. Sanjay Manjrekar, who was doing commentary, compared Gill’s reaction to some of India’s past aggressive captains. He said, “Is this really Shubman Gill? He’s reminding me of someone… maybe Virat Kohli?”
Manjrekar noted that MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma never celebrated in this way. He joked that Gill might be taking inspiration from legends like Ajit Wadekar or even a number 4 batsman known for his intensity – a subtle hint at Kohli himself.
Century in Debut as Test Captain
Gill made a strong statement not just as a leader but also as a batsman. He scored a century in his first Test as captain, becoming only the fifth Indian to achieve this milestone. The others on this elite list include Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay Hazare, Dilip Vengsarkar, and Virat Kohli.
With this century, Gill also completed 2,000 Test runs in just 60 innings, matching Virat Kohli’s record. This milestone proved that Gill is not only growing as a captain but is also consistent with the bat.
One of the Youngest to Lead with a Century
Gill also made history by becoming the 23rd player in Test cricket to score a century while captaining for the first time. He is also among the youngest to do so, joining the ranks of Herbie Taylor, Alastair Cook, and Steve Smith.
These achievements show Gill’s solid temperament and growing maturity. At just 25, he seems ready to carry Indian cricket forward in the longest format.
A New Era Begins for Team India?
With his smart field placements, brave decision-making, and strong batting, Gill seems to be stepping into the shoes of India’s next long-term Test captain. His energy on the field, his trust in teammates, and his cool yet aggressive leadership style are earning him early praise.
Though it’s still the beginning, Gill’s first Test as captain shows that he is not afraid to take bold decisions, even when under pressure. Whether it’s keeping the field unchanged after a six or celebrating with full passion, Shubman Gill is bringing his own flavour to Indian cricket leadership.
