As India kicked off their five-match Test series against England at Headingley, June 20 brought with it more than just a new WTC cycle. It marked another symbolic moment in Indian cricket - Shubman Gill walking out for his first Test as captain.
Taking over the reins after the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Gill now shoulders the responsibility of leading a young Indian side in one of the toughest away tours in cricket. The day is steeped in legacy.
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And not just because of what lies ahead but also what has come before. Over the years, June 20 has become a date of transformation for Indian Test cricket.
It's the day when three of India’s most iconic cricketers - Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli - made their red-ball debuts. And now, Shubman Gill steps into a new chapter on this date.
June 20: A Historic day in Indian cricket history
June 20, 1996: Ganguly and Dravid arrive at Lord's
India were in transition when they arrived at Lord's in 1996. In came two debutants who would go on to form the spine of India's batting for more than a decade.
Sourav Ganguly - batting at No. 3 - stunned the English crowd with a 131 on debut. It was an innings that remains one of the most memorable first appearances by an Indian in Tests.
At the other end, Rahul Dravid missed a debut century by just five runs. He scored a 95 that signalled his arrival as a dependable No. 3 in the years to come.
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June 20, 2011: Kohli's tough start in Jamaica
Fifteen years later, another future captain took his first steps in Test cricket. Virat Kohli debuted against the West Indies at Sabina Park, Jamaica and scored just 4 and 15.
But as history would show, that slow beginning was only the start. Kohli would go on to become India's most successful Test captain, scoring 9,230 runs in 123 matches with 30 centuries and an unmatched era of dominance at home and overseas.
June 20, 2025: Shubman Gill begins his captaincy journey
And now in 2025, it's Shubman Gill’s turn. On the same date that launched the Test journeys of three Indian greats, Gill began his tenure as Test captain - the youngest since Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi.
With a new-look side, no Kohli or Rohit, and an eye on the WTC 2025-27 cycle, Gill’s leadership marks a fresh chapter.
The date may be coincidental. But in Indian cricket, June 20 keeps returning - with a new story, a new leader, and another moment to remember.