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, bringing up his 11th Test hundred with a commanding innings against Afghanistan in the one-off Test.

Gill's century, scored in front of his home crowd, was a blend of composure, timing and authority. The India captain reached the landmark off 138 balls, striking 11 fours and a six, and barely looked troubled during an innings that kept the hosts firmly in control.

The century was also a significant milestone in Gill's captaincy journey. It was his sixth Test hundred as India captain, taking him further up the list of Indian skippers with the most centuries in the format.

IND vs AFG ONLY TEST DAY 1 LIVE UPDATES

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

The Indian skipper looked assured from the moment he walked to the crease. While several batters got starts, Gill was the one who made it count. He paced his innings expertly, absorbed pressure when required and punished anything loose, steadily wearing down the Afghanistan attack.

The milestone arrived in characteristic fashion. Saleem Safi angled a back-of-a-length delivery into the pads and Gill calmly tucked it behind square on the leg side for a single. As the ball rolled away, the crowd rose to its feet. 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, while Rishabh Pant walked across to embrace his captain.

The hundred was another reminder of the confidence Gill has carried throughout the year. Fresh from an outstanding IPL 2026 campaign, the 26-year-old looked every bit a batter 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 tournament's second-highest run-scorer. He also led Gujarat to the final before they were beaten by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Questions are often asked about whether success in T20 cricket can seamlessly translate into the longer format. Gill answered those doubts emphatically. There was no trace of recklessness in his approach. Instead, he showcased patience, discipline and shot selection of the highest order, mixing elegant drives with controlled strokeplay square of the wicket.