Gill joins Bradman, Gavaskar with hundred in Manchester

Shubman Gill produced a captain's innings for the ages on the final day of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, scoring a resolute 103 to become only the third captain in Test history to register four centuries in a single series — joining the illustrious Sir Donald Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar in an exclusive club.

Facing a daunting task after a top-order collapse left India teetering at 0-2 early in the innings, Gill, alongside KL Rahul, led a spirited fightback.

The duo compiled a determined 188-run partnership for the third wicket, steadily wearing down England's attack on a deteriorating fifth-day pitch. Rahul, unfortunate to fall short of a century, was dismissed for 90, trapped leg-before by a visibly struggling Ben Stokes, who turned to bowling despite carrying injuries.

Gill, unfazed even after taking a painful blow to the hand, reached his hundred from 228 deliveries, featuring 12 exquisite boundaries. It was a powerful display of grit and maturity from the 25-year-old, captaining India in a Test series for the first time. His innings spanned nearly seven hours, showcasing immense patience and resilience under pressure.

Just before lunch, however, a weary Gill edged Jofra Archer behind for 103, leaving India 223-4, still trailing by 88 runs in the second innings. England were handed a chance to pile on further pressure the very next ball, but Joe Root dropped Ravindra Jadeja at slip — a costly lapse that drew groans from the Old Trafford crowd.

Washington Sundar, unbeaten on 21, will resume in the afternoon session alongside Jadeja, as India look to salvage the Test — and potentially keep the series alive.

The series has been fiercely contested, with every match going down to the final day. But regardless of the eventual outcome, Gill's phenomenal performance throughout — four centuries, calm leadership, and unwavering composure — has marked him out not just as a top-class batsman, but a captain with a promising future.