Shubman Gill vs Virat Kohli: A Look at Their Test Captaincy Debuts

India's First Test Loss and Leadership Changes

India faced a setback in the first Test match against England at Leeds, losing by 5 wickets. This defeat has allowed England to take the lead in the ongoing 5-match series. Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new captain for the Test format, stepping into the role after Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket and Virat Kohli's decision to also retire from the format. In his debut innings as captain, Gill scored a century but struggled to make a significant impact in the second innings.

Shubman Gill's Captaincy Debut

Shubman Gill, the latest addition to the elite group of Test captains, made a remarkable entry with a score of 147 against England at Headingley in 2025. His performance in the first innings was commendable, showcasing his skill and leadership. However, he was dismissed for just 8 runs in the second innings, concluding his first Test as captain with a total of 155 runs.

Virat Kohli's Historic Debut as Captain

Virat Kohli, known for his consistency, holds the record for the highest runs scored by a player in their debut Test match as captain, accumulating an impressive 256 runs in total. He led India for the first time during the 2014 Adelaide Test against Australia, where he made a significant impact with centuries in both innings. Although India lost that match narrowly, Kohli's outstanding performance is remembered as one of the most remarkable captaincy debuts in Test cricket history.