Indian cricket has a new captain etching his name in the record books on English soil. In a remarkable display of skill and temperament, Shubman Gill has surpassed previous stalwarts to record the highest individual Test innings by an Indian captain in England.
This significant achievement at the Birmingham Test not only cemented his place at the top but also broke a 35-year-old record, marking a new era in Indian cricket’s touring history. His sensational 180 runs on the second day of the match propelled him past some of the most celebrated names in Indian cricket.
This incredible feat by Gill reshapes the hierarchy of top scores by Indian captains in England. Previously, Mohammad Azharuddin held the distinction with his magnificent 179 runs scored in Manchester in 1990. He was the first Indian captain to cross the 150-run mark in a Test innings in England, a record that stood for over three decades until Gill’s recent heroics.
Another prominent figure on this elite list is Virat Kohli, who played a captivating innings of 149 runs in Birmingham in 2018. While he narrowly missed out on becoming the second Indian captain to score 150 or more in England at the time, his innings remains a testament to his class and is now ranked third on this prestigious list.
The legendary Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, a name synonymous with Indian cricket in England for nearly two decades, also features prominently. As captain, he scored a remarkable 148 runs in Leeds back in 1967. This innings held the top spot until 1990 and now stands as the fourth-highest score by an Indian captain in England.
Interestingly, Shubman Gill appears twice on this exclusive list. Prior to his record-breaking 180, he had already registered a significant innings of 147 runs earlier in the same series. This performance was, at that time, the fourth-highest score by an Indian captain in England, and it now sits as the fifth-highest, further highlighting his consistent and impactful contributions as captain. Gill’s recent performances undoubtedly mark him as a rising star, continuing to set new benchmarks for Indian cricket on the international stage.