Shubman Gill leads India in its 600th Test; Who were Indian captains in 1st, 100th, 200th, 300th, 400th, 500th Tests?

Shubman Gill walked into history books on Saturday at the Galle International Stadium as he led India in its 600th Test match against Sri Lanka in the first of the two-match series, which are a part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-2027 cycle.

Such a landmark moment comes a pretty early in Shubman's career, after the Punjab cricketer took over as India's Test captain last year in England. In the process, India also became the first Asian and third team overall to play 600th Test matches after England (1097) and Australia (883).

Coincidentally, India's landmark 600th Test also came on the day the country is celebrating its 80th Independence Day. “Very big honor for me, every time you get an opportunity to lead your country, and even more so special on this occasion. Independence Day for us and 600th Test match, so looking forward," said the Indian captain at the toss.

In the process, Shubman entered the elite list of Indian captains - CK Nayudu, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli - to lead the national team in centenary Test matches. Legendary Nayudu was India's first Test captain when they played its first official game during their tour of England in 1932.

India's Test captains at centenary matches

Pataudi led India in its 100th Test match, that too against England in Birmingham 35 years later. In its 94-year journey so far, the Indian team have seen a total of 38 Test captains, the latest being Rishabh Pant. During this period, India handed Test debuts to 319 players, with Manav Suthar being the last lucky cricketer. Tendulkar has most Test caps for India - 200.

As far as the captaincy record is concerned, Kohli is the most successful Indian Test captain, leading the nation in 68 games from 2014 to 2022. Under Kohli, India won 40 Tests.

India win toss in 600th Test, opt to bat

Earlier, Shubman won the toss as India opted to bat against Sri Lanka. Both teams are eyeing crucial points across the two-test series for staying in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 final. India are currently in fifth place, while hosts Sri Lanka are sixth.

Sri Lanka has opted for two fast bowlers and four spinners, including skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and left-arm spinner Sonal Dinusha, while 25-year-old off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha makes his Test debut.

India have opted for three spinners along with two pacers – Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. The three left-arm spinners are Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Manav Suthar. Devdutt Paddikal replaced Sai Sudharsan, who is ruled out of this series due to a stress fracture injury.

India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test playing XIs

Sri Lanka: Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (captain), Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Keshara Nuwantha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando.

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna