On 15 August, India will celebrate its 80th Independence Day. It’s a big day for India. Team India is set to break a record on Independence Day . Sri Lanka will host the Indian side for a 2-match Test Series starting from 15 August.
Test cricket is the ultimate test for batters, and it’s the longest format of the game. For India’s WTC 27 campaign, the 2-match series against India is a do-or-die series. India’s hopes of qualifying for WTC 27 will be shattered if India loses this Test series. To secure a spot in the WTC 27 Final, India now needs to win 8 matches out of the remaining 9 matches.
Shubham Gill will captain India for the first time on Sri Lankan soil. And historically, he will become the Indian captain to lead the India squad in the 600th Test match. The Indian team has played its 599th Test match, and on 15 August, India will create history by playing the 600th Test match. Virat Kohli captained India in the 500th Test Match. The time runs so fast. India’s new captain, Shubman Gill, leads the way for the 600th Test match for the India side.
From Kohli to Shubman Gill : India’s new Era
Virat Kohli, as captain, is widely known for aggression and dominance on the ground. Kohli has set many records as India team captain and has made India number 1 in Test cricket. Kohli has smashed 9,230 runs in 123 matches with an astonishing average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. Under Kohli’s captaincy, India got the most success. He captained India in 68 Test matches, winning 40 and losing 11 matches .
He missed the magic mark of 10,000 runs in the Test format. Kohli will always be remembered as the greatest Test player despite not reaching the mark of 10,000 runs in his career. India was successful in drawing 11 matches under Kohli. India had a 58.42 winning rate under Kohli’s dominant captaincy. Kohli stepped down from captaincy on January 15, 2022, after the Proteas (South Africa ) team defeated India 2-1 in the Test series.
Rohit Sharma had held the pressure of Test captaincy on his shoulder and became India’s next Test captain. Rohit Sharma guided India to the WTC 23 final, where the mighty Australian team defeated India by 209 runs, a humiliating loss. Under Rohit, India won 12 matches, lost 3 matches, and drew 3 matches out of 24 matches he led. Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket on May 25 and handed over captaincy to Shubman Gill.
Shubman Gill had performed for India with the bat in tough times, helping India level the series 2–2 against England. The credit goes to Shubman Gill’s stressful and under-pressure innings that helped India to put England under pressure and, with brilliant, accurate planning, India successfully leveled the series.
Shubman Gill showed great captaincy skills in the IPL, leading the Titans to reach the final in IPL 2026. Gill performed well under different conditions for India with the bat. Now that he is captain, his responsibilities are doubled: to score with the bat and lead the team on the ground.
Explained: How can Team India qualify for the WTC finals
Last Updated on August 10, 2026 by Aditiya Sharma
Cricket New Organization