June 6 Sports Wrap: Shubman Gill-KL Rahul Star With Test Century, Shreyas Named T20I Captain, Vaibhav's Historic Call-Up

Indian sport witnessed another eventful day on June 6, headlined by Test captain Shubman Gill's unbeaten century against Afghanistan in Mullanpur and R Praggnanandhaa's historic triumph at Norway Chess.

The day also marked a significant shift in Indian cricket's T20 leadership as Shreyas Iyer was appointed captain, while teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned his maiden India call-up.

From major selection decisions by the BCCI to a dominant performance by the Indian hockey team and the continued rise of Indian athletics, here is a roundup of the biggest stories from across the sporting world.

1. Shubman Gill Slams Century as India Dominate Afghanistan

India captain Shubman Gill continued his prolific run in Test cricket with an unbeaten century against Afghanistan on the opening day of the one-off Test in Mullanpur. Playing at his home ground, Gill reached his hundred in 138 balls with 11 fours and a six. Alongside centuries from KL Rahul and valuable contributions from Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant, Gill guided India to a commanding 368/3 at stumps. The knock also helped him cross 1,000 Test runs as India's captain while registering his sixth Test century in just 15 innings as skipper.

2. Shreyas Iyer Named India's New T20I Captain

Indian cricket entered a new phase after the selectors named Shreyas Iyer as the new T20I captain ahead of the Ireland and England series. Iyer replaces World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav and returns to India's T20 setup for the first time since late 2023. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited Iyer's leadership success across domestic and franchise cricket, including leading KKR to the IPL 2024 title and Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final. The appointment signals India's long-term vision for the shortest format.

3. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Becomes Youngest India International

At just 15 years and 71 days old, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest player ever selected for an Indian cricket team after earning a place in the T20I squad for Ireland and England. The Rajasthan Royals opener's selection comes after a record-breaking IPL 2026 season where he won the Orange Cap with 776 runs at a strike rate above 237. Agarkar praised the teenager's ability to perform under pressure, particularly during Rajasthan's playoff run.

4. Bumrah and Hardik to Be Managed Carefully

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya have been omitted from the T20 squads as part of a broader workload management strategy. Bumrah is expected to be preserved primarily for Test cricket and the upcoming ODI World Cup cycle, while Hardik's immediate focus will be 50-over cricket. The move reflects India's effort to maximize the availability of two key players across formats following a demanding 12-month cricket calendar.

5. KL Rahul Registers His 12th Test Century

KL Rahul justified his promotion as India's Test vice-captain by scoring a composed century against Afghanistan. Opening the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul reached his hundred in 164 deliveries and became only the third player in Test history to be dismissed on exactly 100 in three consecutive centuries. His knock featured excellent back-foot play and laid the foundation for India's dominant first-day total. Afghanistan became the sixth Test nation against whom Rahul has scored a century.

6. India Finish Day One on 368/3

India produced one of their strongest opening-day batting performances at home, ending Day 1 against Afghanistan on 368/3. Rahul and Gill struck centuries, while Sai Sudharsan narrowly missed out on a maiden Test ton and Pant completed a half-century before stumps. The total became India's fourth-highest first-day score in a home Test. Afghanistan's bowlers showed discipline early on but struggled as fatigue set in during the final session.

7. Manav Suthar Makes Test Debut Against Afghanistan

Left-arm spin all-rounder Manav Suthar became India's 319th men's Test cricketer after receiving his debut cap against Afghanistan. The Rajasthan-born cricketer has built an impressive domestic record with 129 wickets in 29 first-class matches while also contributing valuable lower-order runs. Suthar's inclusion reflects India's continued investment in young spin-bowling talent ahead of a busy Test calendar.

8. Jaiswal Named Virat Kohli Replacement for Afghanistan ODIs

Virat Kohli will miss India's upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after failing to recover from the hamstring injury he suffered during the IPL 2026 final. The selectors named Yashasvi Jaiswal as his replacement. Kohli's fitness will continue to be monitored ahead of India's ODI tour of England later this summer. The absence provides another opportunity for Jaiswal to strengthen his credentials in the 50-over format.

9. India Win Bronze at Women's U18 Asia Cup

The Indian Women's U18 Hockey Team finished its campaign at the Women's U18 Asia Cup with a convincing 3-0 victory over Korea in the bronze-medal match. Goals from Sandeepa Kumari, captain Sweety Kujur and tournament top scorer Nousheen Naz sealed the win. Despite a heartbreaking semi-final defeat to China, India concluded the tournament with 36 goals and showcased a promising generation of young talent.

10. Praggnanandhaa Creates History at Norway Chess

R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title after defeating Germany's Vincent Keymer in the final round. The 20-year-old's victory capped a remarkable turnaround that included consecutive classical wins against Alireza Firouzja, Magnus Carlsen, world champion D Gukesh and Keymer. Widely regarded as one of the strongest events in world chess, Norway Chess marks Praggnanandhaa's biggest title since emerging as one of India's brightest young stars.