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From Adelaide To Headingley: Shubman Gill Continues Captain Virat Kohli's Legacy

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @auqibhabib/x.com]Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @auqibhabib/x.com]

Shubman Gill has entered an elite list with his brilliant Hundred against England in the ongoing Headingley Test. He became the fifth Indian player to score a century in his first Test match as a Test captain of the nation.

As the 25-year-old entered the three-figure mark and celebrated with a roar, the fans were reminded of a particular genius who did something 11 years ago in Adelaide.

Kohli's Iconic Start To Test Captaincy

Virat Kohli in Adelaide in 2014 [Source: @ViratCrazyDK/x.com]Virat Kohli in Adelaide in 2014 [Source: @ViratCrazyDK/x.com]

Virat Kohli's Test captaincy began on December 9 2014, against Australia when MS Dhoni was injured. He scored 115 runs in the first innings and followed it up with an equally brilliant 141 in the second. This made him the first Indian and, so far, the only second captain in cricket history to score centuries in both innings of his Test captaincy debut.

Though India lost the match, the legacy of those two knocks by one of India's greatest ever will forever be etched in the history books.

Gill's Commanding Performance

Just ahead of the England tour, two of India's stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, announced their retirement from the purest format of the game. The eyes were on Gill to see how he would lead his team and how he would perform on the tour. 

Shubman Gill [Source: @SG77Era/x.com]Shubman Gill [Source: @SG77Era/x.com]

Shubman Gill walked into bat at number four and scored 147 runs off 227 deliveries. His innings included 19 fours and one six and mostly was smooth throughout. Gill's knock was nearly flawless, and it resonated with the brilliance of Kohli's fearless show in Adelaide from 11 years earlier. 

Different Eras, Same Pressure

Kohli's ascent to the role was sudden, and under crisis conditions, the situation was similar for Gill, even though he might have had a bit more time to prepare for his role.

The tale that began with a show of brilliance in Adelaide ended as the legacy of the most successful Test captain India has ever had. Shubman Gill has taken the right steps to build his own legacy; only time will tell how this unfolds.

The torch has been passed, and Gill's debut suggests Indian cricket remains in capable hands.