The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced Shubman Gill as the new captain of the Indian Test team following the retirement of Rohit Sharma from the red-ball format. At just 25 years old, Gill now holds the responsibility of leading India in the longest format of the game, even though he boasts limited experience across formats at the international level.
On the other hand, India recently bid farewell to another stalwart, Virat Kohli, who also stepped away from Test cricket in May. By the age of 25, Kohli had already cemented his name into the record books with a streak of remarkable performances and milestones. Meanwhile, Gill is beginning his leadership journey, and Kohli has already become a global icon.
CricTracker analyses deep into a comparison between Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli at the age of 25:
Shubman Gill vs Virat Kohli (Tests)
In Test cricket, Gill has played 32 matches while scoring 1,893 runs at an average of 35.06. The consistency has been a challenge for the batter, but has still managed to maintain a decent average. Similarly, at the age of 25, Kohli had scored 1,855 runs in Tests at an average of 39.46. Both players share a comparable approach to batting in the red-ball format. Though Kohli had a slightly better average at the same age, Gill’s numbers reflect promising potential.
| Shubman Gill | Player | Virat Kohli |
| 32 | Matches | 29 |
| 59 | Innings | 51 |
| 1893 | Runs | 1855 |
| 35.06 | Average | 39.46 |
| 59.93 | Strike Rate | 50.06 |
| 07 | 50s | 09 |
| 05 | 100s | 06 |
| 128 | Highest Score | 119 |
Shubman Gill vs Virat Kohli (ODIs)
In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), Kohli had already established himself as a modern-day icon by the age of 25. He had played 134 innings while scoring 20 centuries and averaging at a mind-boggling 51.31. His consistency made him a big thing in India’s batting line-up early in his career. On the other hand, Gill currently holds a higher average of 59.04 in the 50-over format, having played 55 innings so far. But, in terms of experience and match-winning performances, Kohli had a clear edge over Gill at the same age.
| Shubman Gill | Player | Virat Kohli |
| 55 | Matches | 142 |
| 55 | Innings | 134 |
| 2775 | Runs | 5901 |
| 59.04 | Average | 51.31 |
| 99.57 | Strike Rate | 89.89 |
| 15 | 50s | 31 |
| 08 | 100s | 20 |
| 208 | Highest Score | 183 |
Shubman Gill vs Virat Kohli (T20Is)
Virat Kohli also holds the edge in the shortest format of the game at the age of 25 in this comparison. In T20 Internationals, he averaged 46.28 from 26 innings. Even though he came into the international arena during the early rise of T20 cricket, Kohli quickly adapted and made a strong impact. In comparison, Gill currently averages 30.42 in T20Is, which is a more modest start to the shortest format of the game.
| Shubman Gill | Player | Virat Kohli |
| 21 | Matches | 28 |
| 21 | Innings | 26 |
| 578 | Runs | 972 |
| 30.42 | Average | 46.28 |
| 139.28 | Strike Rate | 131.70 |
| 03 | 50s | 09 |
| 01 | 100s | 00 |
| 126* | Highest Score | 78* |
Conclusion
It is clear that Virat Kohli had the upper hand at the age of 25. His consistency and volume of runs at the international level set him apart from Shubman Gill. However, Gill is currently stepping into a leadership role in the Indian Test setup, and has shown flashes of potential. He can use up this opportunity to lead from the front and has the platform to grow his own legacy in Indian cricket.
