Shubman Gill Becomes Youngest Indian Captain to Win Overseas Test | India vs England 2025

Shubman Gill Becomes Youngest India Captain to Win a Test Overseas

Leeds | July 6, 2025 — In a historic moment for Indian cricket, Shubman Gill has etched his name into the record books by becoming the youngest Indian captain to win a Test match on foreign soil. At just 25 years and 158 days, Gill led India to a commanding victory over England in the third Test at Headingley, Leeds, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Gill stepped into the leadership role unexpectedly after regular captain Rohit Sharma was sidelined with a hamstring injury and vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah was rested. Despite the pressure of captaincy and the challenge of facing England in their own backyard, the young Punjab batter rose to the occasion with grace, tactical maturity, and individual brilliance.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Gill set the tone for India with a fluent 89-run knock, anchoring the innings alongside KL Rahul, who scored a brilliant 126. India posted a competitive first-innings total of 411. The bowlers then responded with a clinical performance as Mohammed Siraj took a five-wicket haul (5/67) and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with three wickets to dismiss England for just 214, handing India a 197-run lead.

Exercising a bold decision, Gill enforced the follow-on — a rare move in modern Test cricket — which paid dividends. Despite a fightback from England’s Joe Root, who scored a resilient century, India bowled out the hosts in the second innings and chased down a modest target of 112 runs with six wickets to spare, sealing a memorable win on Day 4.

Gill’s leadership was widely praised for being aggressive yet composed. He rotated his bowlers with precision, maintained pressure with attacking field settings, and trusted his instincts at crucial moments. His ability to lead from the front with the bat added weight to his tactical decisions, proving he was not overawed by the responsibility.

This victory marks India’s first Test win at Headingley since 2002 and adds to their growing list of achievements in overseas conditions under a young leadership core. Gill’s milestone surpasses the previous record held by Nawab of Pataudi, who was 26 when he won a Test abroad in 1968.

Veterans of the game including Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar commended Gill’s performance, calling it a sign of a “new era” in Indian cricket. Ganguly took to social media to declare, “Shubman is a natural-born leader. This win shows what the future holds for Indian cricket.”

Head coach Rahul Dravid was equally impressed, praising the youngster’s temperament. “He was calm under pressure and brave in his decisions. This win is a reflection of his cricketing IQ and the trust he builds with his team.”

With the fourth Test set to be played at Old Trafford, the team awaits Rohit Sharma’s return, but the emergence of Shubman Gill as a dependable leader adds welcome depth to India’s leadership bench. His success could pave the way for a future where Gill takes over as India’s all-format captain in the coming years.

As the series intensifies, one thing is clear: India’s future is in promising hands, and Shubman Gill has taken a giant stride from being a prodigious talent to a mature leader capable of guiding India to historic victories on the global stage.