Can Shubman Gill Surpass Virat Kohli? A Statistical Analysis of Cricket's Next Superstar

Quick Answer: Can Shubman Gill Really Surpass Virat Kohli?

Can he break some records? Yes, a few are already within reach.

Can he match Kohli's longevity? Uncertain, but nothing in his game rules it out.

Can he reach 50+ ODI centuries? Possible, if he plays deep into his 30s injury-free.

Can he surpass Kohli overall? Too early to say, and probably too early to frame the question properly.

 

Why Is Shubman Gill Being Compared to Virat Kohli?

Gill's rise as India's new batting leader

Gill is 26. He's India's Test captain. In 2025, he scored 269 against England at Edgbaston, the highest score by an Indian captain ever, breaking Kohli's 254 not out. He has double centuries in both Tests and ODIs. He holds the record for the highest T20I score by an Indian, a 126 off 63 balls against New Zealand.

That's not potential. That's a résumé.

Similarities between Gill and young Kohli

Both arrived young, batted with conviction, and got tagged as India's next great batter before 25. Kohli at 25 was aggressive and vocal, carrying himself like a leader-in-waiting. Gill at 25 is calmer, lets his bat do the talking. Different personalities, same gravitational pull on the conversation.

The stats after 138 international innings are almost identical. Gill: 5,515 runs, average 45.2. Kohli at the same stage: 5,503 runs, average 45.47. The similarity is almost suspicious.

 

Shubman Gill vs Virat Kohli at the Same Age

Metric at Age 25-26	Shubman Gill	Virat Kohli
International Runs	5,515	5,503
International Average	45.20	45.47
Strike Rate	80.86	77.60
ODI Runs	3,037	5,000+
ODI Centuries	8	20
Double Centuries	2	0
ICC ODI No.1 Ranking	Yes	Yes

ODI runs comparison

By 25, Kohli had played 134 ODI innings and averaged 51.31 in the format. Gill has played 62 ODIs and averages 57 with 3,037 runs. Fewer innings, higher average. The sample size gap is real, but the rate Gill is scoring at is genuinely impressive.

ODI centuries comparison

Kohli had 20 ODI tons by 25. Gill has 8 as of June 2026. That's a big gap. But Kohli played ODIs at a ferocious rate during that era, often 30+ matches per year. India's current ODI calendar is leaner, which naturally caps Gill's opportunity.

Batting average and strike rate comparison

After 138 international innings, the numbers sit almost side by side. Gill averages 45.2 at a strike rate of 80.86. Kohli averaged 45.47 at 77.6. Gill gets there faster. That's the only meaningful difference at this stage.

 

You Can Also Check Out Shubman Gill vs Virat Kohli at 26: Who Had the Better Start and Can Gill Break Kohli's Records?

 

Which Virat Kohli Records Can Shubman Gill Realistically Break?

ODI century record

Kohli has 50 ODI centuries. Gill has 8. The math requires another 42 hundreds, and at roughly 1 century per 7 ODI innings, that's around 300 more innings over the next decade. It's not impossible. Gill would need to stay fit, stay in the XI, and keep converting.

Fastest milestone records

This is where Gill already has a foothold. He became the youngest ODI double-centurion in men's cricket at 23 years and 132 days. He's also the third Indian after Kohli and Rohit to score centuries in all 3 international formats. Some fastest-to-X records are already his.

ICC rankings and consistency records

Kohli spent the better part of a decade at ICC No. 1 in ODIs. Gill reached the ranking in 2026. Staying there is the real challenge. Kohli owned consistency over 15 years. Whether Gill can do the same across a full career is the open question.

Kohli Record	Current Record	Gill Status	Chances
ODI Centuries	50	8	High
International Centuries	85	19	Moderate
International Runs	27,000+	5,500+	Moderate
ICC No.1 ODI Ranking	Multiple Years	Already Achieved	High
Chase Master Legacy	Historic	Too Early	Low

 

Can Shubman Gill Reach 50 ODI Centuries?

Gill's current century rate

In 56 ODIs, Gill scored 2,785 runs at an average of 58.02 with 8 centuries. That's 1 ton roughly every 7 innings. Kohli's peak rate was closer to 1 every 5. So Gill would need to both play more ODIs and convert more fifties to close that gap.

What rate must he maintain?

To reach 50 ODI centuries, Gill needs 42 more. At his current conversion rate, that's somewhere around 290-300 innings. Achievable if he plays ODI cricket until his mid-30s and the schedule cooperates. The ICC's shrinking ODI calendar is the real unknown here.

 

You Can Also Check Out Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Shubman Gill: Who Deserves India's ODI Opening Spot?

 

What Advantages Does Gill Have Over Kohli?

Modern batting conditions

Flat pitches, high-scoring formats, and short boundaries are more the norm now than they were in 2012. Gill came up in an era that suits his style, and he's already scoring at a higher strike rate than Kohli did at comparable stages.

Improved fitness and recovery

Sports science has moved fast. Modern recovery protocols, nutrition, and load management mean players can extend their peak by years. Gill has access to infrastructure Kohli didn't have at 26.

More aggressive ODI approach

Gill has smacked 113 sixes in his first 138 international innings. His strike rate across formats consistently beats Kohli's at the same stage. He bats with less defensive intent, which matters in an era where 350+ totals are increasingly common.

 

What Challenges Could Stop Gill From Surpassing Kohli?

Injuries and workload management

Gill plays all 3 formats and now captains India in Tests. That's a heavy load. Kohli went through prolonged form slumps even without the captaincy burden. Add leadership to the equation and the pressure compounds fast.

Maintaining form for a decade

Kohli averaged 50+ in ODIs across 15 years. That's the part that doesn't get enough attention. Gill has shown brilliance in bursts. The sustained, grinding version of that consistency over a full decade is a different ask entirely.

Changing ODI schedules

The ICC Future Tours Programme keeps trimming ODI windows in favour of T20Is. Fewer ODIs per year means fewer innings, which means fewer centuries possible. Gill may never accumulate the sheer volume of ODI innings that Kohli did.

 

Can Shubman Gill Break Sachin Tendulkar's Records Too?

The 100 international centuries question

Sachin's 100 international hundreds remains untouched. Kohli retired with 85. Gill has 19 international centuries as of June 2026. He'd need 81 more. For context, Kohli needed his entire career to reach 85. Gill would need to sustain that output for 15+ more years at the top level. Mathematically possible. Practically, very unlikely.

Why longevity matters more than talent

Sachin and Kohli didn't reach those numbers because they were the most gifted batters of their generations. Plenty of talented players disappeared early. They reached them because they batted for 18-20 years without collapsing under pressure, injury, or form. Longevity is the variable that separates "great" from "all-time great." Gill's talent isn't in question. His durability over two decades is.

 

Final Verdict: Will Shubman Gill Surpass Virat Kohli?

Gill is the best young batter India has produced in a generation. He's already broken Kohli's Test records. He's got the technique, the temperament, and the numbers to back the conversation up. But surpassing Kohli's overall legacy, including the Chase Master era, the 2012-2019 ODI dominance, and the cultural weight he carried for a decade, that's a mountain.

Gill can absolutely challenge specific milestones. Whether he becomes bigger than Kohli depends on choices, injuries, and time, none of which anyone controls.

 

FAQs

Can Shubman Gill break Virat Kohli's ODI century record?

It's within reach. Kohli has 50 ODI centuries; Gill has 8 at 26. He'd need 42 more and roughly a decade of consistent ODI cricket to get there. Achievable, not guaranteed.

How many centuries does Shubman Gill have at the same age as Kohli?

After 138 international innings, both players had 16 international centuries. The totals were nearly identical at that stage, though Kohli had more ODI tons and Gill has more Test centuries.

Can Shubman Gill score 100 international centuries?

Unlikely, but not mathematically impossible. He's at 19 as of June 2026. Sachin took his entire career to reach 100. Gill would need to stay at the top level well into his late 30s while scoring at the same rate.

Who was better at the same age, Gill or Kohli?

At 25, Kohli had a clear edge in ODIs: more centuries, more match-winning performances, a longer track record. Gill had a higher batting average but far fewer innings. By the numbers at that age, Kohli edges it.

Can Gill become India's greatest batter after Virat Kohli?

He's the frontrunner. No one else in Indian cricket right now is in this conversation the way Gill is. Whether he gets there depends entirely on how the next 10 years unfold.