IND vs WI 2025
Indian Cricket TeamShubman GillTest Cricket Records

Shubman Gill’s Bradman-esque 84.81 Avg; Smashes 5th Captaincy Ton in 2025

Shivansh Rana | 4 min read | 3 days ago | Oct 14, 2025 04:19 am IST
Shubman Gill's Bradman-esque 84.81 Avg; Smashes 5th Captaincy Ton in 2025

You think you know cricket records? Think again. Shubman Gill, India’s new Test captain, is doing something absolutely unreal in 2025, putting his name right next to the legendary Don Bradman. On October 11, 2025, Gill smashed his fifth Test century as captain against the West Indies in Delhi, capping off a year of pure dominance.

Key Takeaways

  • Shubman Gill scored his 5th Test century as captain in 2025 during the Delhi Test against the West Indies.
  • His captaincy batting average is a staggering 84.81, second only to Don Bradman in Test history (min. 7 matches).
  • Gill equaled Virat Kohli’s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian captain in a single calendar year (5).
  • He reached this milestone in just 12 innings, faster than Kohli (18) and just behind Sunil Gavaskar (10).

A Year of Total Dominance

Look, taking over the Test captaincy from a legend like Rohit Sharma is no small task. But Gill hasn’t just stepped into those shoes; he’s sprinting in them. The year 2025 has been nothing short of spectacular for him. He’s piled up 933 runs in just 12 innings as the man in charge. That’s not just good, it’s historic.

Before this unbeaten 129 in Delhi, he was tearing it up in England. Remember that tour? A blistering 147 in Leeds, a massive 269 in Birmingham followed by a 161 in the second innings of the same match, and then another 103 in Manchester. It’s been a relentless run of form.

Putting Records on Notice

This isn’t just about scoring runs; it’s about how fast he’s hitting major milestones. Reaching five centuries as captain in just 12 innings is incredible. For context, the great Virat Kohli took 18 innings to do it. The only Indian ahead of him is Sunil Gavaskar, who did it in 10 innings. Globally, only Alastair Cook (9 innings) and Gavaskar got there quicker. Yeah, that’s the company he’s keeping now.

Expert Analysis

So what do the numbers really tell us? Experts point to his phenomenal conversion rate and his ability to handle pressure as the key factors. An average of 84.81 after seven Tests as captain is almost unheard of in the modern era. It shows a player who isn’t just surviving the captaincy but is absolutely thriving on the extra responsibility. This is peak performance, and it’s reshaping what we expect from a team leader.

Social Media Storm

But honestly, when your name starts getting mentioned in the same breath as Don Bradman, you know the internet is going to explode. Fans and analysts are all over social media, trying to process these unbelievable stats. The consensus? We are witnessing the rise of a potential all-time great. The comparisons to legends like Kohli, Gavaskar, and even Tendulkar are everywhere.

More Than Just a Batsman

Gill’s impact goes beyond his own score. In the Delhi Test, India declared at a massive 518/5. What’s crazy is that the team posted fifty-plus partnerships for each of the first five wickets, a feat not seen since 1960. That speaks volumes about the batting unit’s stability under his leadership.

And he’s already thinking about the future. Despite his own success, he recently stated that the team “needs” both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the 2027 ODI World Cup. It shows a leader who respects the legends and has a clear vision for Indian cricket. So, what’s next for Captain Gill? If 2025 is anything to go by, a lot more broken records.