Shubman Gill Makes History: First Indian Captain to Score Double Century in England!

At just 25, India’s new leader etches his name among the greatest

Edgbaston, July 3, 2025 — a date Indian cricket fans will never forget. Shubman Gill, leading India from the front, hammered a monumental 269 against England. This wasn’t just another big score. It was the highest ever by an Indian in a Test match in England — a knock that blended hunger, precision, and class.

This performance did more than boost India’s chances — it signaled Gill’s transformation from a rising star to a generational leader. Let's look at how this young captain shattered records, silenced critics, and left legends behind.

Match Overview: 2nd Test – India vs England, 2025

• Date: July 3, 2025
  
• Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
  
• India’s Total: 587 all out
  
• Gill’s Score: 269 off 387 balls (30 fours, 3 sixes)
  
• England at Stumps (Day 2): 77/3

Gill walked in at 95/2 before lunch on Day 1. Calm and calculated, he forged key partnerships with Yashasvi Jaiswal (66-run stand), Rishabh Pant (47-run stand), and then stabilized the innings with a 203-run partnership alongside Ravindra Jadeja.

By stumps on Day 1, Gill was unbeaten on 114. By the time he was dismissed, India had crossed 550 — and Gill had carved a piece of history for himself.

Gill’s Knock: A Record-Breaking Milestone

This was not just any double hundred. Gill's 269:

• Surpassed Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 to become the highest Test score by an Indian in England
  
• Made him the first Indian captain to score 250+ runs in a Test outside India
  
• Saw him become the only cricketer to hit double centuries in both ODIs and Tests before turning 26
  

Only Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, and Chris Gayle have managed this feat across both formats — but none did it at 25.

Also, with this innings, Gill:

• Became the first Indian captain to cross 400 runs in an overseas Test series
  
• Joined MAK Pataudi and Sachin Tendulkar as the only Indian captains to score 150+ in Tests before turning 26
  
• Became the third Indian captain to register centuries in consecutive Tests vs England, after Vijay Hazare and Mohammad Azharuddin

Gill’s Smart Batting and Focus

Gill didn’t just try to hit every ball hard. His innings was all about calm thinking, smart shot choices, and good timing. At the start, he played carefully, waited for bad balls, and made the most of his chances when he got set.

“I had to stay at the crease for a long time. I kept my game simple — no distractions, just focus,”

Gill said after the match.

He said going back to the basics helped him a lot. The way he changed his pace without losing control showed he wasn’t just playing with confidence — he was thinking like a strong leader.

Leadership Under Pressure: Captaincy Boosts Gill’s Game

Gill arrived at this series under pressure. Critics questioned his form. Captaincy added weight. But instead of crumbling, he thrived.

In the first Test at Headingley, he smashed 147 — making him just the fifth Indian captain to hit a century on debut, joining legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli.

He followed it with 269 in the very next match.

At just 25, he’s now the youngest Indian captain to record back-to-back centuries in a Test series against England.

Expert Opinions & Player Reaction

Former pacer Varun Aaron summed up what many were thinking:

“He just showed total control. A knock of the highest quality. Shubman Gill wants to be the greatest batsman India has ever seen. That’s how he’s operating.”

Aaron added,

“He’ll be disappointed he didn’t get a triple hundred. We were all talking about daddy hundreds, and he was digging deep. But 269 — that’s a massive statement.”

The cricketing world took notice. Harsha Bhogle praised his discipline. Nasser Hussain called it "masterful." And on social media, fans celebrated the innings as one of the greatest ever by an Indian abroad.

Fan Reactions: Gill Tops All-Time Lists

“Move over Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Ravi Shastri. Shubman Gill is now No. 1 when it comes to top scores by India batters in England.”

That’s not just sentiment — it’s fact.

Statistical Brilliance: Gill’s Career Numbers Against England

Category	Number
Test Centuries vs England	4
Test Fifties vs England	3
Double Centuries in Tests	1 (269)
Centuries as Captain	2 (this series)
ODI Double Century	208 (vs NZ)
Total Runs in Series (so far)	416

Session-by-Session Breakdown of the Innings

Session	Key Highlights
Session 1	India 95/2 — Gill walks in
Session 2	Partnership with Jaiswal builds momentum
Session 3	India ends Day 1 at 310/5 — Gill on 114*
Day 2 Morning	Gill completes 150, steadies innings
Day 2 Lunch	200 partnership with Jadeja
Day 2 Afternoon	Gill dismissed for 269 — India's lead crosses 500

His focus never dropped. He read the pitch, outlasted England’s seamers, and outplayed their tactics.

India’s Rising Star: Not Just a Milestone, a Movement

Shubman Gill is now:

• The youngest to achieve 400+ runs in a Test series as Indian captain
  
• Top run-scorer for India in England in a single match
  
• Leader of a team that’s building dominance abroad
  
  

“Move over Gavaskar, Dravid, Tendulkar, and Shastri — Gill is the new No. 1 when it comes to top scores by Indians in England.”

Fans and analysts agree: India may have just found their next all-format icon.

Conclusion

Shubman Gill’s 269 at Edgbaston isn’t just another batting milestone — it’s a thunderous announcement of a new leader. Aged just 25, he’s already rewriting history, joining elite company, and pushing the bar higher for future Indian captains.

Under intense pressure, Gill responded with a once-in-a-generation performance. The numbers are massive, the records unmatched, and the composure unforgettable.

🔥 What are your thoughts on Gill’s knock? Should he now be called India’s next all-format icon? Drop your views in the comments, share with fellow fans, and stay tuned for the rest of the series!

FAQs

Has Shubman Gill scored a double century?

Yes. He scored 269 against England in July 2025 at Edgbaston.

Which Indian captain scored a double century in Test cricket?

Shubman Gill is the first Indian captain to do so in England.

What is the highest Test score by an Indian in England?

Gill's 269 now tops the list, ahead of Gavaskar’s 221.

Who scored double centuries in both Tests and ODIs before 26?

Only Shubman Gill has achieved that in world cricket.

How many centuries has Gill scored in this series?

Two — 147 in Headingley, 269 at Edgbaston.

Is Gill the youngest Indian captain to do this?

Yes, he is the youngest to score 400+ runs in an overseas Test series.

Did he play a crucial role on Day 1?

Yes. India were struggling at 95/2 when he entered and ended Day 1 unbeaten on 114.

Was this Gill’s first double century?

Yes, and it’s also his highest Test score.

Did he pass legends with this knock?

Yes. He now holds the highest Test score by any Indian in England.

Will this affect his captaincy future?

Positively. He’s shown maturity, leadership, and form under pressure.

Disclaimer

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