From blistering centuries to game-changing spells and jaw-dropping comebacks, the Indian men’s Test team produced a spectacle in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. 

The five-match series had everything - grit, glory, and high-octane drama. But what truly stood out was the man at the helm, Shubman Gill, making his debut as India’s Test captain and walking away with the Player of the Series award.

It wasn’t just the runs he scored, though 754 of them certainly made headlines. But it was how Gill absorbed pressure, inspired his teammates, and made history in the process. His leadership arc, in many ways, has redefined new-age cricket.

Over five Tests, the 25-year-old right-hander piled up four centuries, rewriting record books in the process. His tally made him the highest run-scorer in a Test series between India and England and also pushed him past several legendary benchmarks.

Highest Run-Scorer in India-England Test History

Gill’s 754 runs shattered the previous record of 752 set by Graham Gooch in 1990, marking the most runs ever by a batsman in a Test series between these two nations.

Surpassing Gavaskar

In the 1978-79 series against the West Indies, Sunil Gavaskar scored 732 runs as captain, a record that stood unchallenged for 47 years. Gill not only surpassed it but also moved within striking distance of Sir Don Bradman’s iconic 810-run mark for a captain in a Test series.

Breaking Virat Kohli’s SENA Record

Shubman Gill rewrote history in style, becoming the first Asian batter to exceed the 700-run mark in a SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) country. His tally overcame Virat Kohli’s 692 runs from the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, setting a new benchmark for batting dominance abroad.    

Outclassing Jaiswal

Just a year after Yashasvi Jaiswal lit up a home series against the Three Lions with 712 runs, the Indian Test skipper went a step further, conquering English conditions to outshine that mark and claim the record for himself.

Dominating in England

Gill broke a 19-year-old record held by Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf for the most runs by an Asian batter in England (631). The Indian captain’s 754-run tally left it well behind.

Four centuries in a series

He became just the third captain in cricket history, after Bradman and Gavaskar, to notch up four hundreds in a single Test series.

Making history at Edgbaston

Perhaps the most symbolic moment of Gill’s captaincy came in the second Test at Edgbaston. No Indian or Asian captain had ever defeated England at this venue. India didn’t just win, they dominated, cruising to a 336-run victory. Gill led from the front, dictating terms with both bat and field placements, turning a herculean challenge into a statement triumph.

The Double Ton that defined the series

After a loss in the opening Test, the pressure on Gill was immense. But at Edgbaston, he delivered one of the finest knocks by an Asian captain in SENA conditions, a majestic 269 in the first innings. That double century is the first by an Asian skipper in these countries, setting the tone for a remarkable comeback.

The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy will be remembered for its gripping cricket, but it may ultimately be seen as the series that marked the dawn of the Shubman Gill era in Indian Test cricket. 

At just 25, he has already etched his name into record books alongside the game’s greats and shown he possesses the qualities to guide Indian cricket into its next chapter.