Shubman Gill couldn’t have asked for a better start to his tenure as India’s Test captain. Leading the side in the opening match of the five-Test series against England at Headingley, the 24-year-old produced a masterclass with the bat, scoring a composed and unbeaten 127. This knock, which marked his sixth Test century, his second overseas, and notably, his first in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries, helped India finish Day 1 at an imposing 359 for 3.

Gill was ably supported by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who also brought up a century, laying a strong platform for the visitors. With this landmark innings, Gill became only the fifth Indian to score a century on Test captaincy debut, joining an exclusive club featuring Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, and Virat Kohli.

However, even as plaudits pour in for his leadership and batting, Gill might find himself in a minor tangle with the International Cricket Council (ICC)—not for his strokeplay, but for his socks. In what could be a dress code violation, Gill was spotted wearing black socks during his innings—an unusual sight in Test cricket, where players are required to wear socks in white, cream, or light grey.

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According to clause 19.45 of the ICC’s clothing and equipment regulations, revised in May 2023, non-compliance can result in penalties unless there’s a valid reason, such as damaged gear or unavailability of proper kit.

Should Shubman Gill be fined for wearing black socks? 😂😳 #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/M7FJRC6QOE

— Tayyab Mushtaq (@tayyabmushtaqq) June 20, 2025

If match officials consider it a deliberate Level 1 breach, Gill could be fined up to 20% of his match fee. However, if deemed unintentional, a warning may suffice.

As the match heads into Day 2, India will aim to build on their dominant start. With Gill and Rishabh Pant—who is unbeaten on 65—at the crease, the visitors will eye a first-innings total close to 600, which could put England under enormous pressure.

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However, the weather at Headingley could spice things up. The sunny conditions of Day 1 are expected to give way to overcast skies, higher humidity, and possible rain showers, all of which may favour the seamers. These factors could make scoring runs more difficult, and maintaining concentration will be key for India’s batters as they look to tighten their grip on the match.