India captain Shubman Gill continued his outstanding run of form by carrying his IPL 2026 momentum into the red-ball format during the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Saturday, June 6. Fresh from a remarkable IPL campaign, Gill once again showcased why he is considered one of the brightest stars in world cricket.
The Gujarat Titans skipper had enjoyed a sensational season, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2026 with 732 runs from 16 innings at an average of 45.75 and a strike rate exceeding 163. Although Gujarat fell short in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gill’s consistency throughout the tournament earned widespread praise.
Against Afghanistan, the Indian captain looked composed from the moment he walked to the crease. Building on the platform laid by the opening batters, Gill settled in quickly and played with confidence, displaying excellent control and shot selection throughout his innings.
ALSO READ: Suryakumar Yadav Reacts To India T20I Squad Exclusion After Losing Captaincy Role
The right-hander reached his half-century in just 68 deliveries during the final session of Day 1, registering the ninth Test fifty of his career. More importantly, the knock helped him achieve a significant personal milestone as he completed 1,000 Test runs as India’s captain.
The achievement underlined Gill’s impressive start as a leader. Having taken over the captaincy on May 24, 2025, he reached the 1,000-run mark in just 379 days. In terms of innings played, Gill became the second-fastest Indian captain to achieve the feat, reaching the landmark in only 15 innings.
SHUBMAN GILL NOW HAS 20 INTERNATIONAL HUNDREDS AT AGE OF 26 🥶🙇
– The happiness of Shubman Gill’s father was priceless! ❤️pic.twitter.com/KssapaCkkK
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 6, 2026
The only Indian skipper to get there faster was legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar, highlighting the elite company Gill now finds himself in. The milestone further strengthens his growing reputation as a batter capable of leading from the front across formats.
Speaking at the toss earlier in the day, Gill admitted that adjusting from the high-intensity IPL environment to the demands of Test cricket had been a challenge. The biggest hurdle, according to the Indian skipper, was resetting the body’s routine after two months of late-night T20 cricket.
WATCH – KL Rahul Dismissed Right After Century As Shubman Gill Left Disappointed
“The preparation has been pretty good. Honestly, the only tricky part has been changing our sleep schedule. We were sleeping at the time we now have to wake up,” Shubman Gill said with a smile. However, he added that the squad had used the short break effectively and was feeling refreshed ahead of India’s busy Test calendar.
Gill also stressed the importance of the Afghanistan Test in helping India fine-tune combinations before crucial assignments against Sri Lanka and Australia later in the season. With several important Tests on the horizon, the captain believes this match provides the perfect opportunity for the batting unit to build rhythm, gain confidence, and establish the right balance moving forward.
