Shubman Gill Makes History with Double Century in England — First Asian Captain to Do So in SENA Countries
India’s Test captain Shubman Gill etched his name in the history books on July 3, 2025, by becoming the first Asian captain to score a double century in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). His incredible knock came during the second Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, where he brought up his maiden Test double hundred in style.
The 24-year-old broke multiple records along the way:
- Surpassed Tilakaratne Dilshan’s 193 (Lord’s, 2011) to claim the highest score by an Asian captain in SENA countries.
- Broke Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 at The Oval (not as captain) to set the highest individual score by an Indian in England.
- Surpassed Mohammed Azharuddin’s 192 in New Zealand (1990), which was the previous highest by an Indian captain in SENA.
- Became only the second Indian captain after Virat Kohli (200 vs West Indies in 2016) to score a double century in an overseas Test.
Gill reached the landmark with a composed single off Josh Tongue during the second session on Day 2. His innings was lauded for technical precision — Cricviz recorded his false shot percentage at just 3.5%, the lowest ever for a century in England since 2006 (the average is 12%).
A Historic Stand with Jadeja
India resumed Day 2 at 310/5, with Gill on 114 and Ravindra Jadeja on 41. The duo went on to forge a 200-run partnership, dominating the English attack. Jadeja celebrated his fifty with his signature sword dance, while Gill showcased authority with fluent strokes, including reverse sweeps and slog-sweeps off spinner Shoaib Bashir.
England captain Ben Stokes tried unorthodox tactics with funky leg-side fields and frequent bowling changes, but Gill and Jadeja stood firm. Gill reached 150 off 263 balls and later accelerated to his double ton, eventually helping India breach the 400-run mark.
A Feat Beyond Legends
Gill now stands ahead of legends like:
- Sunil Gavaskar – Highest as captain in England: 48
- Mohammed Azharuddin – Previous highest by an Indian captain in SENA: 192
- Virat Kohli – Highest in England as captain: 149
- Rohit Sharma & Sourav Ganguly – Did not breach 150 as captains in SENA
With this innings, Gill has firmly marked a new era for Indian Test cricket, underlining his leadership and batting prowess on the toughest overseas terrains. Volume 2 of this thrilling Test continues, but India has already made a resounding statement at Edgbaston.