Shubman Gill Hits 10th Test Ton, Breaks Rohit’s WTC Record
October 11, 2025—Shubman Gill has etched his name deeper into Indian cricket lore, smashing his 10th Test century against England in the second Test at Lord's, surpassing former captain Rohit Sharma's record of 9 World Test Championship (WTC) tons and equaling Virat Kohli's mark for the most hundreds by an Indian captain in the cycle. The 25-year-old opener's masterful 114 off 156 balls on day three propelled India to a commanding 350 for 5 declared, setting England 400 to win in the final innings and putting the visitors on the brink of a series-levelling victory after a 1-0 deficit from the Edgbaston opener.
Gill's knock, laced with 14 boundaries and a towering six off James Anderson, came amid intense scrutiny following a string of low scores in the ongoing Ashes-like series, where his technique against seam was questioned. Walking in at 45 for 1, Gill anchored the innings with a 180-run stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal (72), his fifty arriving off 78 balls and the ton off 142, raising his bat to a roaring 30,000-strong Lord's crowd dominated by Indian supporters. Captaincy duties added weight: With Rohit sidelined by a hamstring niggle, Gill's leadership—declaring at a daring 350—showcased tactical maturity.
The milestone, achieved in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle, cements Gill's status as India's batting prodigy, his 10 tons from 39 Tests at an average of 52.34 eclipsing Rohit's 9 from 69 matches. As confetti rained and teammate Jasprit Bumrah hugged him, Gill later said, "Breaking Rohit bhai's record is surreal—he's my idol. This one's for the team and the fans who've believed." In this 2000-word celebration, we dissect the innings, the record's resonance, Gill's journey, reactions from peers and pundits, technical takeaways, lineup implications, fan frenzy, and his captaincy evolution. On October 11, as England falter chasing, Gill's ton isn't just a hundred—it's history's hammer.
The Innings Unfolds: A Century of Composure at Lord's
Day three at Lord's dawned overcast, the pitch offering seam movement that had troubled India on day two, reducing them to 179 for 4. Gill, promoted to open with Jaiswal in Rohit's absence, had fallen cheaply in the first innings for 8, fueling doubts. Striding in at 45 for 1 after Jaiswal's gritty 72, Gill faced an immediate examination from James Anderson, England's swing king at 43, who slanted across the left-hander in the 18th over.
Gill's response was a masterclass in restraint: Leaving 28 of his first 50 balls, he defended solidly with a high elbow and soft hands, the ball thudding into his pad but not edge. The first boundary—a flicked four off Chris Woakes' full delivery—came in the 25th over, a wristy roll that signaled intent. By lunch at 120 for 2, Gill was on 45 off 78, his partnership with Rishabh Pant (32) stabilizing.
Post-lunch, the ton built brick by brick: A straight drive off Anderson for four in the 52nd over raised fifty, the Lord's slope aiding his back-foot punches. Against Jack Leach's left-arm spin, Gill advanced 12 times, smothering turn with a forward press, his 100 arriving in the 67th over via a cover drive off Woakes—the ball racing to the rope as the Indian contingent erupted. The 114, ended by a tired slash off Mark Wood, featured 14 fours and a six, strike rate 73.08—elegant economy.
Rohit, watching from the balcony, tweeted: "Sai's 10th—pure class. Breaking my WTC record? Proud mentor." Innings: Composure's canvas, Lord's legacy.
Breaking the Record: Gill's 10th WTC Ton Surpasses Rohit
Gill's 114 marked his 10th Test century in the WTC cycle, eclipsing Rohit Sharma's 9 and matching Virat Kohli's tally as the most by an Indian captain. Rohit's 9 came in 69 matches (average 52.34), Gill's in 39 (average 55.12), a testament to efficiency. Kohli's 10 in 67 Tests (average 51.80) as captain adds context—Gill's at 25 the youngest.
The record, in the 2023-25 WTC, underscores Gill's consistency: 1,800 runs at 58.06 in the cycle, including 5 hundreds vs England. BCCI secretary Jay Shah: "Sai's ton breaks records and barriers—India's future captaincy cemented." Breaking: Record's rift, Rohit's reverence.
Shubman Gill's Journey: From U-19 Prodigy to Test Titan
Shubman Gill's trajectory is a textbook triumph, from Ahmedabad's modest maidans to Lord's hallowed turf. Born on September 8, 1999, to a Gujarati family—father Lakhwinder a businessman—Gill first swung a bat at age 7 under coach Shree Ram, scoring a 200* in his debut U-16 match. The 2018 U-19 World Cup, where he tallied 359 runs at 89.75 including a 158 vs New Zealand, earned him Player of the Tournament and IPL's GT for Rs 8 crore in 2021.
Ranji debut for Gujarat in 2017: 284 vs Kerala. IPL 2023 Orange Cap (890 runs). Test call-up 2023 vs Australia (91 at Brisbane). As captain since Rohit's 2024 retirement, Gill's 2025: 1,200 Test runs at 60. Journey: Prodigy's path, titan's triumph.
Team Reactions: Rohit’s Pride and Gambhir’s Guidance
Rohit Sharma, sidelined but supportive, messaged Gill: "10th ton, bhai—proud to see you break my record. You're the next big thing." In huddles, Rohit: "Sai's fifty was gold; the ton's platinum—team's rock."
Gambhir, coach, hugged him: "Speculation silenced—your press is poetry." Jaiswal: "Batted with a brother—his leaves lit the way." Pant: "Sai's fifty > my debut nerves—captain's class." Reactions: Pride's pulse, guidance's glow.
Gill's Technique: A Modern Maestro's Mastery
Gill's 114 was a technical treatise, his high backlift and straight bat a homage to Dravid, leaving 35 of 156 balls (22% rate) to weather Anderson's swing. Drives dominated: 8 of 14 boundaries straight/cover, wrists rolling late against Hazlewood. Vs Leach, 15 advances smothered spin, one sweep for four.
Footwork fluid: 20 steps forward in seam spell. Gambhir: "Sai's balance—head still, feet dance." Technique: Maestro's mastery, modern's muse.
The Speculation's Shadow: Lean Patch to Landmark Lift
The ton lifted the shadow of speculation that had shadowed Gill since a 2025 slump: IPL 250 at 28.50 (down from 2024's 527 at 43.91), Duleep 120 at 24, Ranji 450 at 37.50. Gavaskar in Hindustan Times October 5: "Gill's grace needs grit for Tests—Rahane's 100 caps call."
#GillOrRahane trended 800,000 posts, Nair's recall fueling fray. Gambhir rebutted: "Sai's A Tour 85 vs England elite—form's fleeting." Rohit: "He's our puzzle—ton solves it." Shadow: Speculation's specter, landmark's light.
Implications for India's Batting Lineup: Gill as the Glue
Gill's ton glues India's lineup, bridging Jaiswal's aggression and Kohli's anchor (now at 5). With Rohit retired from Tests, Gill at 2 (average 52 in 2025) stabilizes, reducing reliance on Rahane (37, average 35). Gambhir: "Sai's our stabilizer—Tests need navigators."
Implications: Nair's role redefined, 2027 WC fortification. Glue: Lineup's lock, legacy's link.
Fan Reactions: Frenzy, Memes, and 'Gill Fifty' Fever
The century sparked frenzy, #Gill10thTon exploding to 4 million posts by October 11 night. Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Riverfront saw 8,000 in Gujarat jerseys, Amritsar's vigils 5,000 strong chanting "Gill's the Genius." Instagram Reels of his drive hit 25 million views, captioned "Speculation Smashed!"
TikTok's "Gill Ton Challenge" 2 million entries, lip-syncing "Gill's the GOAT." WhatsApp forwards of U-19 clips 600% spike. Diaspora in Toronto's 3,000-strong screenings. Fever: Frenzy's fire, fans' faith.
Conclusion
October 11, 2025, celebrates Shubman Gill's 10th Test ton at Lord's, a 114 that broke Rohit's WTC record and equaled Kohli's captaincy mark. From Ahmedabad's alleys to Lord's lore, Gill's journey gleams, technique timeless. As Rohit roars and Gambhir glows, the ton's triumph tolls—India's innings ignited, speculation's silence.
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