Shubman Gill carries IPL form into Tests, slams 11th hundred to deflate Afghanistan

Shubman Gill continued his golden run with the bat from IPL 2026 into the Test arena, scoring his 11th Test hundred with a commanding innings against Afghanistan in a one-off Test.

Gill’s century, scored in front of the home crowd, was a mixture of poise, timing and authority. The India captain reached the 138-ball landmark, hitting 11 fours and a six, and barely looked troubled during an innings that kept the hosts firmly in check.

The century was also a significant milestone in Gill’s captaincy journey. It was his sixth Test hundred as Indian captain, moving him further in the list of Indian captains with the most centuries in the format.

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Only Virat Kohli (20), Sunil Gavaskar (11), Mohammad Azharuddin (9) and Sachin Tendulkar (7) have scored more Test hundreds as Indian captain. Gill’s latest effort took him to six centuries as captain, underlining the impact he made as both a batsman and a leader in the early years of his captaincy.

The Indian skipper looked assured from the moment he came to the crease. While several batsmen started, Gill was the one who made it count. He paced his innings expertly, absorbing pressure when needed and punishing whatever came loose, steadily reducing the Afghanistan attack.

The milestone arrived in characteristic fashion. Saleem Safi attacked the back of a length into the pads and Gill calmly tucked it behind square on the leg side for a single. The crowd rose to their feet as the ball rolled away. Gill removed his helmet, raised his bat and acknowledged the applause from all corners of the ground. Teammates in the dressing room stood up in appreciation as Rishabh Pant walked over to his captain to hug him.

The hundred was another reminder of the confidence Gill carried throughout the year. Fresh off an outstanding IPL 2026 campaign, the 26-year-old looked a midget at the peak of his powers. Gill amassed 732 runs in 16 matches for Gujarat Titans this season at an average of 45.75 and a strike rate of 163.02, finishing as the second highest run-scorer in the tournament. He also led Gujarat to the final before they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Questions are often asked whether success in T20 cricket can be seamlessly translated into the longer format. Gill answered these doubts emphatically. There was no trace of recklessness in his approach. Instead, he showed patience, discipline and shot selection of the highest order, mixing elegant drives with a controlled strike into the square of the goal.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

June 6, 2026 5:03 PM IST