 "India captain Shubman Gill celebrates after completing his century on Day 2 of the second Test against West Indies in Delhi. AP")
Shubman Gill has hardly let the responsibility of leading the Indian team affect his batting form as he brought up his fifth century since being named India Test captain on Day 2 of the second Test against West Indies on Saturday. Gill, who had succeeded Rohit Sharma in the role following the latter’s sudden retirement in May, reached the three-figure mark during the afternoon session at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Gill had earlier struck four centuries while amassing a whopping 754 runs during the five-Test series in England – his maiden assignment as India captain. And after getting dismissed for 50 in the first Test against West Indies in Ahmedabad, Gill – batting on 20 overnight – brought up his 10th century in the format by running three off left-arm spinner Khary Pierre’s bowling.
Gill emulates Bradman, Gavaskar, Kohli after completing fifth Test ton as captain
The 26-year-old, in the process, emulated a feat that had only been achieved batting star and former captain Virat Kohli twice in the past – that of an Indian captain scoring five or more Test hundreds in a calendar year. Kohli had achieved the feat in consecutive years – 2017 and 2018 – during his peak years as an all-formats star.
Gill also became the third fastest batter to reach the milestone of five Test centuries as captain, completing it in 12 innings. Only Ex-England captain Alastair Cook and former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar have reached the milestone at a faster pace, having taken nine and 10 innings respectively.
Gill also joined an elite club comprising Don Bradman and Gavaskar as the third batter to score five centuries in their first seven Tests as captain.
Here’s how former cricketers and supporters of the Indian team reacted to Gill’s latest batting masterclass:
Gill shifted gears right after bringing up his century, smashing off-spinner Roston Chase for a six in the following over and Pierre for three fours in the next over, steering India past 500 in the process.
He remained unbeaten on 129 while declaring the innings on 518/5 after wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who had scored his maiden Test hundred in Ahmedabad, was cleaned up by West Indies captain Chase for 44. In the process, Gill went past his previous highest score in a home Test of 128 against Australia in Ahmedabad two years ago.
India currently lead the two-Test series against the Windies 1-0 after thrashing the visitors by an innings and 140 runs in Ahmedabad, and are eyeing a clean sweep in the national capital.