One more century and Shubman Gill will break Virat Kohli's this record

Shubman Gill is on the verge of making cricket history as he enters the final weeks of 2025 with an outstanding opportunity to set a new record for the most centuries by an Indian Test captain in a single calendar year. So far this year, Gill has scored five Test centuries, matching the record held by Virat Kohli, who achieved it twice, in 2017 and 2018.

Gill's fantastic 2025 so far

Gill’s journey to this milestone has been marked by remarkable consistency and maturity, exemplifying his rise as a dependable and influential leader for the Indian Test side.

He scored his fifth century in just 12 innings as captain, a feat that places him alongside legendary figures such as Alastair Cook of England and Sunil Gavaskar of India, who reached five centuries faster than most.

In 2025, till now, Gill has scored 979 runs in just 8 Test matches at an average of 69.92, including 5 tons and one half-century.

What sets Gill apart is not only the quantity but also the quality of his centuries. Among the five centuries this year, some have been monumental innings, including a career-best 269 runs scored in Birmingham against England, the highest Test score ever by an Indian captain. 

He also became the second batter in Test history to score two 150+ scores in a single match, joining an elite club with Allan Border.

Read Also: India vs South Africa, 1st Test preview, H2H stats, pitch report, streaming details, possible XIs

Kohli's incredible 2017 and 2018

Before Gill, only Virat Kohli was able to score 5 Test centuries as a captain in a calendar year for India. In 2017, Kohli scored 1059 runs in just 10 Test matches at an average of 75.64, where he scored five tons and one half-century.

Kohli continued his form in the next year as well. The former India captain went on to score 1322 runs, his best across any calendar year, in 13 Test matches at an average of 55.08. Even that year, he had scored 5 tons and had five fifties to his name.

Gill's chance to break the record

With the home series coming, Shubman Gill will have his best chance to go past Virat Kohli's record and become the Indian captain with most Test centuries in a calendar year.

Gill will have two Test matches in his hands to create the record.

How to watch the India vs South Africa Test series?

Fans across India can watch the India vs South Africa Test series live on Sony LIV, via OTTplay Premium.