Skipper Shubman Gill on Thursday produced a masterclass with the willow, slamming a sublime maiden double hundred that propelled India to an imposing total of 587 all out on the second day of the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Thursday. Gill’s monumental knock of 269 off 387 deliveries was the bedrock of India’s formidable first-innings score, complemented by valuable contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ravindra Jadeja.
Taking the crease with characteristic composure, Gill anchored India’s innings with a blend of elegance and steely determination. His innings, laced with precision and impeccable shot selection, saw him breach several historic milestones.
By reaching his double century, Gill became the first Indian, and indeed the first Asian captain, to record a double hundred in a Test match on English soil. In doing so, he eclipsed Sunil Gavaskar’s iconic 221 at The Oval in 1979, now owning the highest individual Test score by an Indian batter in England.
Gill found able allies in India’s young batting sensation Jaiswal and the ever-reliable Jadeja. Jaiswal laid a solid foundation with a fluent 87, playing strokes all around the wicket and frustrating the English bowlers early on. Jadeja then took charge alongside his skipper, crafting a polished 89 that further strengthened India’s position. Their partnerships ensured India never relinquished the upper hand throughout their marathon innings.
England, for their part, struggled to extract any sustained menace from the pitch. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir emerged as their most effective bowler, claiming three wickets for 167 runs. However, his breakthroughs were scattered and came far too late to curtail India’s march towards an enormous total. The rest of the English attack toiled in vain, unable to consistently challenge India’s resolute batters or break key stands at crucial junctures.
India’s innings ultimately spanned 151 overs, showcasing their disciplined approach and relentless accumulation of runs.
Brief scores: India 587 all out in 151 overs (Shubman Gill 269, Ravindra Jadeja 89, Yashasvi Jaiswal 87; Shoaib Bashir 3/167)
