From Virat Kohli’s twin centuries to Shubman Gill’s stylish 147, several Indian captains have made memorable Test captaincy debuts with the bat. This elite list includes legends like Vijay Hazare and Sunil Gavaskar, showcasing how strong leadership often begins with impactful personal performances on the biggest stage.
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5. Dilip Vengsarkar – 112 Runs vs West Indies, 1987
Despite India’s poor first innings score of 75, Vengsarkar stood tall in the second with a fighting 102, finishing with 112 runs in his captaincy debut. Though India lost, his knock highlighted his composure under pressure.
4. Sunil Gavaskar – 151 Runs vs New Zealand, 1976
Gavaskar began his captaincy stint in Auckland with a fluent 116 in the first innings and an unbeaten 35 in the second. His 151-run match tally helped India to an emphatic eight-wicket victory.
3. Shubman Gill – 155 Runs vs England, 2025
Gill made a promising start as Test captaincy with a brilliant 147 in the first innings against England at Headingley. Though India lost the match, his debut total of 155 runs underlined his batting prowess and leadership potential.
2. Vijay Hazare – 164 Runs vs England, 1951
Hazare set the benchmark early with an unbeaten 164 in Delhi during his debut Test as captain. His century powered India to a commanding 418/6 before declaring, and the match ended in a draw.
1. Virat Kohli – 256 Runs vs Australia, 2014
Kohli tops the list with a stunning 256-run aggregate in his first Test as captain at Adelaide. With centuries in both innings, his aggressive leadership and batting set the tone for a new era—even though India narrowly lost the thriller.
