Shubman Gill continued to break records as he reached another significant milestone in his debut home Test as captain. On October 3, 2025, during the second day of the opening Test against West Indies in Ahmedabad, Gill scored a composed 50 off exactly 100 deliveries.
This innings made him the first Indian captain in nearly 47 years to score a half-century in his maiden home innings as skipper. The last to do so was Sunil Gavaskar, who famously scored 205 against West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in 1978.
Gill’s Record-Breaking Start as India Captain
Gill entered the West Indies series with confidence after a stellar tour of England, where he scored 754 runs in five Tests at an average of 75.40, including four centuries. Although his performance in the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE was underwhelming, the switch to red-ball cricket brought back his best form.
Batting with authority, Gill reached his half-century with a control percentage of over 95%, showcasing excellent shot selection and temperament. However, his innings ended prematurely when he attempted a reverse sweep off West Indies captain Roston Chase, only to be caught at first slip — a rare error from the otherwise assured batter. This was the second time he has been dismissed playing the reverse sweep against a spinner.
Indian Captains with 50+ Scores in First Home Test Innings
With this knock, Shubman Gill joined a rare group of Indian captains who have scored 50 or more runs in their first Test innings as skipper on home soil. Here’s the elite list:
- Lala Amarnath – 62 vs West Indies, Delhi, 1948
- Vijay Hazare – 164* vs England, Delhi, 1951
- Hemu Adhikari – 63 vs West Indies, Delhi, 1959
- Nari Contractor – 62 vs Pakistan, Mumbai, 1960
- Sunil Gavaskar – 205 vs West Indies, Mumbai, 1978
- Shubman Gill – 50 vs West Indies, Ahmedabad, 2025
Despite his dismissal, Gill’s half-century helped India take a lead in the first innings, putting them in a strong position as they aim to avoid batting again in the fourth innings. With his calm leadership and growing stature, Shubman Gill’s journey as India’s new Test captain has started on a highly promising note.
