Shubman Gill Joins Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in Elite Test Milestone
COLOMBO – Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill etched his name into the record books once again on Sunday, becoming the fourth-youngest Indian cricketer to surpass the 3,000-run mark in Test cricket.
The milestone was achieved on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Entering the match just seven runs shy of the significant career achievement, the 26-year-old displayed trademark composure before reaching the landmark in the 23rd over. An outside edge off bowler Keshara Nuwantha raced to the boundary, signaling the start of a new chapter in his prolific career.
At 26 years and 349 days old, Gill has now climbed into an exclusive club of Indian cricketing royalty. His achievement places him ahead of legendary World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, who reached the same milestone at 26 years and 356 days.
An Elite Company
Gill’s entry into this list sees him standing alongside some of the greatest batters to ever represent India:
- Sachin Tendulkar: 23 years, 228 days
- Virender Sehwag: 26 years, 157 days
- Dilip Vengsarkar: 26 years, 263 days
- Shubman Gill: 26 years, 349 days
- Kapil Dev: 26 years, 356 days
After falling just seven runs short of the milestone during the first Test at Galle, Gill ensured there was no delay in Colombo. Following a cautious start to his innings, he opened his account with a stylish whip off Prabath Jayasuriya on his 13th delivery, setting the stage for the boundary that would confirm his entry into the elite Test list.
Steady Start for India
The day was not without its challenges for the visitors. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack made early inroads, dismissing KL Rahul for 18 after he was caught behind off Lahiru Kumara. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal also showed promise with a knock of 45 before Asitha Fernando breached his defense.
As the match headed into the lunch interval, India found themselves at 88/2 after 25 overs. With Gill unbeaten on 11 and Devdutt Padikkal steady on 13, the team will look to build a formidable total on what promises to be a challenging track in Colombo.
For Gill, the milestone serves as further proof of his rapid maturation as a leader and a batter, cementing his status as a cornerstone of India’s future in the longest format of the game.
