List Of India Players Who Have Scored A Century In Test Captaincy Debut Ft. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill has joined an elite club in Indian cricket history after scoring a stunning century in his very first match as India’s Test captain during the ongoing Headingley Test against England in 2025. At just 25 years old, Gill was handed the reins of the Indian Test team following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from red-ball cricket after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year.

There were initial doubts regarding how the young batter would handle the dual responsibility of leading the side and performing with the bat in the challenging English conditions. However, Gill has silenced critics in style by registering a composed and commanding century in Leeds. With this feat, he becomes only the fifth Indian player to score a century on Test captaincy debut.

Here’s the complete list of Indian players who have achieved this rare feat:

1. Vijay Hazare – 164 vs England, 1951, Delhi

The legendary Vijay Hazare was the first Indian captain to score a century in his debut match as skipper. His unbeaten 164 came against England at Delhi in a drawn match. Hazare’s knock laid the foundation for a strong Indian innings of 418/6 (declared). He became just the third captain in cricket history at the time to register 150+ in a leadership debut.

2. Sunil Gavaskar – 116 vs New Zealand, 1976, Auckland

The ‘Little Master’ started his captaincy journey on a high in Auckland with a fluent 116-run knock. His innings helped India clinch a memorable win over New Zealand, showcasing his trademark technique and patience at the top of the order.

3. Dilip Vengsarkar – 102 vs West Indies, 1987, Delhi

Despite India’s poor first-innings showing (75 all out), Vengsarkar stood tall in the second innings with a valiant 102 against a fearsome West Indies attack. Though India lost the Test, his knock remains one of the finest rescue acts by a debutant skipper.

4. Virat Kohli – 115 vs Australia, 2014, Adelaide

One of the most iconic captaincy debuts in modern cricket, Virat Kohli’s twin hundreds (115 & 141) against Australia in Adelaide reflected his fearless approach. Despite India narrowly losing the match, Kohli’s innings set the tone for a new aggressive era under his leadership.

5. Shubman Gill – Century vs England, 2025, Headingley

The latest entrant to the list, Shubman Gill stamped his authority as captain with a classy century at Headingley. Under pressure and with India at a critical stage in the WTC cycle, Gill’s composure and leadership on debut have drawn praise from all quarters. His ton could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Indian Test cricket leadership.

From Hazare to Gill, this elite list reflects a legacy of leadership and batting brilliance. If this century is a sign of things to come, Shubman Gill is well on his way to carving a legendary path in Indian cricket.