Shubman Gill scaled new heights on Thursday, notching up his maiden 150 in Test cricket, while Ravindra Jadeja crafted a composed 89 to propel India to a commanding 419 for six at lunch on day two of the second Test against England at Edgbaston. The pair stitched together a crucial 203-run partnership off 279 deliveries, capitalizing fully on batting-friendly conditions that offered little encouragement to England’s pace attack.
Resuming from an overnight score of 310 for five, India added a brisk 109 runs in just 25 overs during the morning session. Under clear skies and bright sunshine, Gill and Jadeja appeared largely untroubled, with the surface affording the bowlers scant assistance.
The hosts, desperate for a breakthrough, tried to unsettle the well-set duo with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries. However, the ploy largely misfired as both Gill and Jadeja negotiated the tactic with assurance. It was only late in the session that Josh Tongue, extracting extra bounce from the wicket, managed to break the stand. Jadeja, unable to control an awkward pull, edged the ball to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, offering England a much-needed glimmer of hope.
Earlier, Jadeja signalled his intent from the outset, resuming his innings with a crisp back-foot punch through the covers and a delightful cut shot off Ben Stokes. Gill, on the other hand, opened his day’s account with a deft glide past third man before elegantly driving Chris Woakes through the covers.
Perhaps the most surprising feature of Gill’s innings was his willingness to innovate. Against off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, the Indian vice-captain unleashed an audacious reverse sweep, collecting valuable runs. Later, he went one better, dancing down the track to Bashir and dispatching him over square leg for a six. Not to be left behind, Jadeja stepped out confidently to loft the spinner for a towering maximum over mid-on, underlining India’s dominance.
With Jadeja’s departure, Washington Sundar joined Gill in the middle. Stokes immediately opted for attacking fields, placing a leg slip and two close-in catchers on the leg side to exploit any uncertainty. The move nearly paid off as Tongue, generating steep bounce, posed immediate challenges for Sundar.
Looking ahead, Gill and the lower order will aim to consolidate India’s formidable position and ensure England are denied any pathway back into the contest — something the visitors would be wary of after their slip-up in Leeds. As the pitch continues to offer minimal assistance to the seamers, the onus firmly remains on the English bowlers to conjure breakthroughs through disciplined lines and clever variations.
