Shubman Gill Creates History with Double Century as Test Captain in England

Edgbaston, Birmingham – July 3, 2025 : Indian cricket witnessed a historic moment on Thursday as Shubman Gill, the 25-year-old batting prodigy from Punjab, etched his name in the record books by becoming the first Indian Test captain to score a double century in England. Gill’s unbeaten 200 at Edgbaston during the ongoing second Test against England not only marks a personal milestone but also sets a new benchmark for Indian leadership in overseas conditions, particularly in the SENA countries — South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia.

A Landmark Innings in Testing Conditions

Coming in to bat at No. 4, Gill walked to the crease on Wednesday under cloudy skies and with the ball swinging considerably. Displaying composure, technical brilliance, and patience, he steered the Indian innings and gradually built his innings with calculated aggression. His double century came with a single off the first ball of the 122nd over, bowled by England’s pacer Josh Tongue.

Gill remained unbeaten on 200 at the close of play, and his innings was a blend of classical stroke play and modern flair — a testament to his growing maturity as both a batter and a leader.

Rewriting the Record Books

Gill’s knock at Edgbaston now stands as the highest individual score by an Indian Test captain on English soil, surpassing the previous record of 179 set by Mohammad Azharuddin in Manchester in 1990. Other notable names on the list include Virat Kohli’s 149 (Birmingham, 2018) and MAK Pataudi’s 148 (Leeds, 1967). Remarkably, Gill himself also features again with a 147-run knock in Leeds earlier in the same series, underlining his dream form.

Following in the Footsteps of Legends

By reaching the 200-run mark, Gill joins an elite club of Indian batters to have scored a double century in England. He is now only the third Indian, after legends Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid, to have achieved this feat in English conditions — and the first to do so as captain.

This innings also makes Gill the first Indian Test captain to register a double ton in SENA countries, a monumental achievement given the historically challenging conditions for subcontinent batters in these nations.

A Promising Era Underway

This is just Gill’s second Test as captain, yet his performance has already ignited hopes of a new era of Indian cricket leadership. Balancing responsibility with performance is never easy, especially in overseas conditions, but Gill’s composed leadership and sparkling form suggest he is more than ready for the challenge.

As the five-match series continues, India will look to build on this strong platform. But regardless of the result of the Test, Shubman Gill’s historic double century at Edgbaston will be remembered as a defining moment — both for him and for Indian cricket’s legacy on English soil.

Stat Box: Highest Scores by Indian Captains in Tests in England

• Shubman Gill – 200* (Birmingham, 2025)
• Mohammad Azharuddin – 179 (Manchester, 1990)
• Virat Kohli – 149 (Birmingham, 2018)
• MAK Pataudi – 148 (Leeds, 1967)
• Shubman Gill – 147 (Leeds, 2025)

With his bat doing the talking and his captaincy off to a blazing start, Shubman Gill is scripting a new chapter in the annals of Indian Test cricket.