Shubman Gill, captaining India for his first home Test series, marked the occasion with a spectacular maiden home Test century against the West Indies in Delhi. His commanding 177-ball innings on Day 2 of the second Test showcased his dominance over the West Indies bowlers. This century is his fifth of the year, making him only the second Indian captain, after his idol Virat Kohli, to achieve five Test centuries in a single calendar year.
Virat Kohli accomplished this rare feat twice during his tenure, in 2017 and again in 2018. Gill joined this exclusive club in 2025, having already scored four centuries during the previous tour of England, with this Delhi knock being his fifth as captain.
This achievement places Gill among the cricketing greats, surpassing even distinguished predecessors like Sunil Gavaskar, Rohit Sharma, Sourav Ganguly, and Rahul Dravid, none of whom managed to score five Test centuries in a calendar year while leading India.
Indian Captains with Five Test Centuries in a Calendar Year:
- Virat Kohli (2017)
- Virat Kohli (2018)
- Shubman Gill (2025)
The Test series between India and West Indies have historically seen a flurry of centuries. Since 2013, across 14 Tests between the two nations, a total of 25 centuries have been recorded.
Remarkably, 23 of these centuries were scored by Indian batsmen, underscoring their overwhelming dominance. Roston Chase, with two centuries, is the sole West Indian to cross the three-figure mark in this period. This stark contrast highlights the significant gap in batting prowess, with Indian players consistently converting strong starts into substantial scores.
Gill assumed India`s Test captaincy following Rohit Sharma`s decision to retire from the longest format. With both Rohit and Virat Kohli stepping down, Gill took on the mantle without the immediate guidance of two of India`s most experienced leaders in Test cricket.
Demonstrating his leadership qualities early on, Gill led India admirably during the England tour. He not only guided the team to a 2-2 series draw but also amassed over 700 runs with his bat, proving his mettle both as a captain and a prolific scorer.
