Birmingham, July 3 (UNI) Indian skipper Shubman Gill produced a marathon masterclass to remain unbeaten on 265 at tea on Day 2 of the second Test against England, propelling India to a commanding 564 for seven after 141 overs at Edgbaston.
His innings, defined by elegance, endurance, and attacking flair, laid the foundation for India’s formidable first-innings total.
Resuming on 114 today morning, Gill stitched a 203-run sixth-wicket stand with Ravindra Jadeja (89) before anchoring another 144-run partnership with Washington Sundar (42), who was eventually bowled by Joe Root in the 139th over.
India had reached 419/6 at lunch, but Gill’s dominance only grew stronger through the afternoon. His double century — the first of his Test career and only the third by an Indian in England — came off 311 balls with a flick off Josh Tongue. What followed was a relentless display of strokeplay that combined classic drives with audacious improvisations. He raised his 250 with a cheeky glide off Harry Brook, and reached the landmark in 348 balls, peppered with 29 boundaries and three sixes.
Gill lit up the session with a flurry of boundaries: a classy cover drive off Root in the 141st over, a towering six over mid-on off Shoaib Bashir in the 131st, and successive crisp drives and cuts off Brook in the mid-120s. His ability to manipulate the field was evident as he reverse-swept Bashir for four, and timed his strokes to perfection, often piercing the gaps with surgical precision.
Washington Sundar, too, played a gritty hand with timely boundaries — a pulled six off Tongue, a smart tuck behind square off Bashir, and a wristy flick to fine leg. However, Root finally broke the partnership as Sundar misread a delivery that straightened just enough to rattle the stumps, much to the spectators’ delight.
Despite England rotating their bowlers, they found little success against Gill’s fluent bat. Chris Woakes (2/81) remained disciplined, while Josh Tongue (1/111), Shoaib Bashir (1/152), and Root (1/20) shared the rest. Brydon Carse and Ben Stokes picked up a wicket each, but the surface offered little for the seamers or spinners.
India’s dominance on Day 2 was not just numerical — it was symbolic of Gill’s maturity as a leader and batsman. His knock, a blend of temperament and attacking intent, has put India in pole position in the Test. With 34 overs still left in the day and Gill still standing tall, the visitors may well push past 600 before declaring or being bowled out.
