Shubman Gill, India’s new captain and No. 4 batter, showcased his brilliance with a maiden Test century in SENA conditions. His 147 at Headingley placed him among elite Indian captains with centuries on captaincy debut and ranks him among the highest individual scores by Indian captains in England.
5) Sourav Ganguly – 128 at Leeds
Much like Shubman Gill, Sourav Ganguly registered his first Test century in England as Indian captain at Headingley, Leeds. Opting to bat on a cloudy morning, Ganguly’s decision paid off as Sanjay Bangar and Rahul Dravid laid a solid foundation. With centuries from Dravid, Tendulkar, and Ganguly, India posted a huge total. Ganguly was particularly aggressive, dominating spinner Ashley Giles en route to a brisk 128 that helped India secure a memorable win and level the series.
4) Shubman Gill – 147 at Leeds
Facing criticism after a poor outing against Australia, newly appointed as Indian captain Shubman Gill responded with a statement knock. Taking on the England bowlers with flair, Gill struck his sixth Test century and was eventually dismissed for 147, silencing doubters with his aggressive and composed innings.
3) Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi – 148 at Leeds
In the 1967 Leeds Test, after England posted 550/4 led by Boycott’s 246, India were forced to follow on after being bowled out for 164. It was then that Pataudi showed true grit, producing a classy and resilient 148. Though India couldn’t avoid defeat, Pataudi’s knock stood as a symbol of fight and finesse.
2) Virat Kohli – 149 at Birmingham
Booed by the crowd when he walked in, Kohli left to a standing ovation after one of his finest Test innings. In the 2018 Birmingham Test, India lost wickets regularly, but Kohli stood tall, battling tough conditions to score a defiant 149 and silence critics in style.
1) Mohammad Azharuddin – 179 at Manchester
While the 1990 Manchester Test is often remembered for Tendulkar’s maiden century in England, Azharuddin’s magnificent 179 deserves equal recognition. Chasing England’s 519, Azhar played a brilliant knock filled with wristy elegance and flair. His innings helped India draw the match and remains one of his finest as captain.
