Birmingham, July 3 (UNI) Indian skipper Shubman Gill lit up Day 2 of the ongoing second Test against England with a scintillating unbeaten 168 as India reached 419 for six at lunch today at Edgbaston.
Gill, who resumed the day on 114, showcased authority and flair in equal measure as he powered his way to his highest Test score yet, anchoring a commanding 203-run sixth wicket partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (89 off 137 balls). Their marathon stand was finally broken just before the break when Jadeja fended a ferocious short delivery from Josh Tongue into the gloves of keeper Jamie Smith.
Gill’s innings, laced with 18 boundaries and a towering six, was a masterclass in shot selection and composure. From elegant drives to cheeky reverse sweeps, he kept the English bowlers at bay through the morning session. He brought up his 150 with a single off Shoaib Bashir and looked in no mood to relent as he closed in on a potential double-century.
The morning also saw some aggressive strokeplay from Jadeja, who hammered 10 fours and a six before falling to Tongue in the 108th over. The duo took India from a precarious 211/5 to a dominant 414/6, changing the tone of the match.
Among the England bowlers, Josh Tongue (1/81) and Shoaib Bashir (1/92) toiled hard on a slow surface. Chris Woakes remained economical with figures of 25-6-81-2, while skipper Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse chipped in with a wicket apiece.
At the lunch interval, Washington Sundar (1 not out) had joined Gill at the crease with 65 overs left in the day. India will look to build a towering first-innings total as they press for control in the second Test of the series.
Brief scores:
India 1st Innings: 419/6 in 110 overs (Shubman Gill 168*, Jadeja 89, Woakes 2/81)
Session Summary: 109 runs, 1 wicket in 25 overs.
