Sports: Shubman Gill, leading India in his debut Test series as captain, scripted history at Edgbaston today, smashing a monumental 269 off 387 balls in the second Test against England. His record-breaking double hundred propelled India to a commanding total of 587, setting a formidable challenge for the hosts.
The 25-year-old skipper, who had publicly declared his ambition to be the best batter of the series, showcased remarkable maturity and aggression, collecting 30 fours and three sixes during his epic knock. This astounding performance makes him the highest individual scorer for India in England, surpassing the legendary Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid. Furthermore, Gill etched his name in the record books as the first Asian captain to amass a double hundred on English soil. In a mere three innings, he has elevated his Test average from the mid-30s to an impressive 40, a testament to his burgeoning form.
Beyond the sheer numbers, Gill’s feat is particularly noteworthy given that this high-profile series marks his maiden outing as Test captain. He has seamlessly transitioned into the pivotal number four position following Virat Kohli’s retirement, exhibiting unwavering composure and ensuring India maintained their advantage, unlike the stumble in Leeds. England’s bowling attack, bereft of assistance from the surface, found no answers to Gill’s masterclass. Their short-ball ploy proved ineffective, and young spinner Shoaib Bashir was taken to the cleaners, prompting desperate measures with part-timers Harry Brook and Joe Root brought into the attack. Gill relentlessly punished Brook, collecting five boundaries, while Washington Sundar, holding his ground at the other end, provided crucial support in a 144-run partnership that lifted India to 564 for seven.
Gill eventually reached his landmark double hundred, stuck on 199 for a brief period, by pulling Josh Tongue for a single towards fine leg. His animated celebrations underscored the immense significance of the achievement, drawing well-deserved applause from both the opposition and the English faithful. Though a potential triple century eluded him, as he was dismissed by Tongue soon after tea, the impact of his innings was undeniable.
Earlier in the day, Gill and Ravindra Jadeja (89 off 137) capitalised on the ideal batting conditions under bright sunshine at Edgbaston, forging a magnificent 203-run stand off 279 balls. India added 109 runs in 25 overs after resuming the day at 310 for five. Despite England’s persistent short-ball strategy against the pair, it failed to yield results for the major part of the morning session. Tongue eventually provided the much-needed breakthrough late in the session, with a short delivery that Jadeja mistimed, resulting in a catch for wicket-keeper Jamie Smith. Gill, meanwhile, showcased his versatility, employing a surprising reverse sweep off Bashir and later sweeping him for a six behind square. Jadeja too joined the boundary-hitting spree, stepping out to smash Bashir for a maximum over mid-on.
Following India’s imposing total, their inexperienced pace attack wasted no time in making inroads into the English batting line-up. Debutant Akash Deep, playing his first game of the series, was particularly impressive, striking twice in as many balls to cap off a dream day for his team. He extracted crucial seam movement to dismiss the dangerous Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, with Gill contributing significantly by taking a sharp catch at third slip to send Duckett packing. Mohammed Siraj further compounded England’s woes by having Zak Crawley caught at first slip. By the close of day two, England found themselves in a precarious position at 77 for three, having lost three quick wickets for just 25 runs. Joe Root (18 batting off 37) and Harry Brook (30 batting off 53) are currently at the crease, tasked with the challenging assignment of settling the nerves in the English dressing room and stemming the flow of wickets.
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