Skipper Shubman Gill slammed a majestic maiden double century that propelled India to a commanding 564 for seven at tea on day two of the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Gill resumed his innings alongside Ravindra Jadeja, with the pair having already frustrated England’s bowlers. Together, they extended their sixth-wicket stand to a formidable 203 runs, capitalising on benign batting conditions and a largely toothless English attack. Jadeja, ever the dependable ally, compiled a fluent 89 before falling to Josh Tongue, who finally managed to breach India’s resolute partnership.
India’s morning session yielded 109 runs, laying a robust platform for further acceleration. However, the highlight of the day unequivocally belonged to Gill. The 25-year-old’s innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression and technical finesse. He pierced gaps with precision, drove with silken grace, and rarely looked troubled, blending caution with calculated risk to perfection.
His monumental knock also carried historical significance. Gill etched his name into the record books by becoming the first Indian, and indeed the first Asian captain, to register a double century in a Test match on English soil. In doing so, he also surpassed Sunil Gavaskar’s legendary 221 at The Oval in 1979, now claiming the highest individual Test score by an Indian batter in England.
As the afternoon wore on, Gill found an able partner in Washington Sundar, who contributed a valuable 42. The pair stitched together a crucial 144-run stand for the seventh wicket, further tightening India’s grip on the contest. Sundar played with calm assurance, rotating the strike effectively and allowing Gill to continue his sublime march towards an even bigger milestone.
With England’s bowlers visibly fatigued and the field increasingly spread out in defensive formations, runs continued to flow freely. Despite Ben Stokes’ inventive captaincy and frequent bowling changes, there was little respite for the hosts as India’s total swelled past the 550-mark.
At tea, the visitors stood tall at 564 for seven after 141 overs, with Gill still unbeaten and eyeing a potential triple hundred.
Brief scores: India 564/7 in 141 overs (Shubman Gill 265 batting, Ravindra Jadeja 89, Washington Sundar 42).
