Courtesy: BCCI
The poets look for inspiration, the philosophers look for meaningful thought, whilst the novelists and filmmakers search for a mind-twisting plots. But what else? What do batsmen look for? Well, truth be told, if you are a certain Shubman Gill, you look for nothing else but fluent Test centuries and knocks that can assert the presence of India as a world-beating cricketing unit, furthering the canvas of excellence that cricketing entities produce, thereby earning more smiles than ever for a country that brings so much joy to the sport. What do you say! For someone who's far from playing 50 career Tests, Shubman Gill's Test centuries have already emerged as a mega sub-plot in his young and growing career and truth is, what a fine career it is already turning out to be, isn't it? With three Test centuries already in this series and with more Tests to follow, Gill is owning the big stage and he's going really strong.
That being said, let us pause for a moment to appreciate a constantly growing stack: what else but Shubman Gill's Test centuries?
Here is a list of Shubman Gill's test Centuries :
1. 110 vs Bangladesh in Chittagong
Who does not remember or would like to remember his maiden century and that too, in a format that is considered the prime focus in terms of gauging one's individual capability? The same could be said about Shubman Gill. And if there's a knock that stands as a precious one in terms of the overall collection of Shubman Gill centuries, then it's the great 110 vs Bangladesh that came four years ago and that too, in Bangladesh.
He took just 152 deliveries to score his emphatic 110 and rather importantly, the century led to a huge 188-run win for his country.
2. 128 vs Australia in Ahmedabad
In some ways, the 128 ranks and must always rank among the finest Shubman Gill Test centuries ever hit by the stormy and amazing batter. As a matter of fact, the only century that the right hander would hit all year in the calendar year 2023, one wherein he'd play against Australia, the West Indies and the Protea, came in just the second Test he played that year and that too, against the mighty Aussies.
The 128 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat, now the home ground of the Gill-led Gujarat Titans, birthed a titanic effort with the bat that came off 235 deliveries. After the likes of Khawaja and Green made talismanic centuries, it was upto someone in the Indian camp to answer with the bat and along came Gill, scoring 12 boundaries and a six in his whirlwind century. But there was the King Kohli in there as well, who'd strike 186 classy runs of his own.
Together, the two accounted for kingly centuries just when India needed them. The match ended in a draw!
3. 104 vs England in Vizag
If one could say that as seen in the ongoing contests in England, Gill's bat has been oozing fire, then back home against the very same opponent last year, it was a weapon doused in ice. He was cool, calculative and yet, intent at run scoring; something that was clearly visible in the 104 Shubman Gill hit in Vizag against England.
After Jaiswal, such a great find for Indian cricket, struck a fantastic double century to lead the proceedings for mega run-scoring, Gill, in the second innings ensured that the flow of runs was here to stay and wouldn't dry down. After a top order collapse with both openers back in the dugout for a combined score of 30, Gill took the matters in his own hands and scored a thoughtful, patient hundred that didn't disappoint anyone in the end.
In Vizag, it was thanks to the tall lad and his tall hundred amid pressure that India overcame England by a margin of 106 runs.
4. 110 vs England in Dharamsala
One among Shubman Gill's Test hundreds was the fluent gem he hit against England in Dharamsala, an opposition, he has quite simply come to own today. His 110, a fine knock ably supported by then-captain Rohit Sharma's 103, starred in the team's tally of 477 precious runs. While several others back then, including Devdutt Padikkal made useful runs for the country, but Gill's composure and the ability to own the big stage against stalwarts of the game such as Jimmy Anderson, really struck a chord with the fan of the game.
It was his brilliance with the bat that enabled the team to an innings victory against a noted opponent.
5.119 not out vs Bangladesh in Chennai
In lighter vein, the 119 unbeaten runs that Gill scored against Bangladesh last year at home turf, would in some ways be remembered his last Test ton in Indian conditions before which he would land in England, in completely alien conditions to destroy and flay a bowling attack that though missing out on a Wood and Archer still had the promise and purpose as only a Woakes and Stokes could generate.
In Chennai last year, Shubman Gill scored a valiant unbeaten 119 runs against a Bangladesh unit comprising Mehidy, Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed and in so doing, top scored for a team boasting names like Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant.
This hundred came off just 176 odd deliveries and would mark Gill's composure and the fluency of scoring runs at the Test match level.
6. 147 vs England at Headingley
Even today, one would like to know the exact reason why India lost the Headingley Test, i.e., the opening Test of the long series currently underway in England. Surely, the visitors failed to get the hosts out in the fourth innings of the contest but how did that happen as from India's contingent, there were some sparkling efforts with the bat with the likes of Jaiswal, Rahul and Pant all scoring hundreds when they were utterly needed.
But forget not that there was a certain Shubman Gill in there as well and in his 147, a valiant century, and then his Test career's sixth, the newly appointed captain fired a century in his very first leadership assignment but also paved way for the team to score big runs against a fine opponent. The 147 in Leeds was an indication of Gill's abilities at pacing his innings and will remain as a great knock in terms of the best Shubman Gill Test centuries of all time.
7. 269 vs England at Edgbaston
What separates the good batters from the greats? It's that they don't leave anything to chance and continue to build on the momentum when the team needs it the most. After beginning his England tour brilliantly with a fine century in Leeds, courtesy a glowing 147, Gill didn't stay there, or was found happy scoring that only ton; he would continue to fire up the runs. And what he did next would re-write record books, make him closer to the pantheon of greats in Test match cricket and most importantly, earn him the regard of the fans around the world.
At one stage during his 269, despite losing partners at the other end, it did seem that a triple ton wasn't too far away but even then, his majestic, mighty 269 warranted Gill the worldwide respect that he so deserves.
What a fine knock despite entering the contest on the backfoot as his India had already lost the opening game of the series a contest earlier.
8. 161 vs England at Edgbaston
Scoring 269 runs on his own was enough to dissuade the unreal critics of Indian cricket to offer lip service against the mighty team but even then, Shubman Gill, tireless as ever and so not done after that mega double hundred, rose again and this time fought on to strike an eighth career Test match ton.
In so doing, and in the process of draining out the likes of Bashir, Stokes, Brydon Carse, and Woakes, Shubman Gill fired a memorable 161. Yet another knock that led him to further engrave India's status as a mighty fine Test team out here in England to give it back but most importantly took the centurion in further proximity to some world record breaking legends.
Gill's 161 in the same Test at Edgbaston, currently underway, meant that he had now scored 430 runs in a same Test which meant he would become the scorer of second-most runs (in terms of aggregate) in a single Test, the Indian captain with a highest Test score earlier courtesy his 269 and the Indian player with most runs ever registered in a single Test match, ahead of Lara and just marginally behind Gooch!
What a player, what a find and what a serene knock that 161 that will forever be counted among the greatest Shubman Gill Test centuries.
Shubman Gill’s Test centuries:
| No. | Score | Opposition | Venue |
| 1. | 110 | Bangladesh | Chittagong stadium |
| 2. | 128 | Australia | Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat |
| 3. | 104 | England | ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam |
| 4. | 110 | England | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala |
| 5. | 119 | Bangladesh | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 6. | 147 | England | Headingley, Leeds |
| 7. | 269 | England | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| 8. | 161 | England | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Q1. What was Shubman Gill's first-ever Test century?
It was a 110, he made vs Bangladesh.
Q2. What is Shubman Gill's highest Test score vs Australia
He made a 128 in Ahmedabad versus Australia in the year 2023.
Q3. How many Test tons has Gill already made vs England?
Thus far, the celebrated right hander has scored 5 of his 8 Test tons vs England.
