Gill Leads from the Front with Epic Innings
Shubman Gill produced a monumental and record-breaking innings, scoring an epic 269 to seize complete control of the second Test for India. It was a near-perfect day for the Indian captain, whose masterclass in batting was followed by a clinical display from his new-ball bowlers, leaving England's top order in disarray. By the close of play, England were struggling at 77 for 3, trailing by a colossal 510 runs after India had posted a mammoth first-innings total of 587—the highest score conceded by England in the Stokes-McCullum era.
Gill's Record-Breaking Masterclass
Resuming the day with the match still in the balance, Gill demonstrated extraordinary class and composure. He meticulously built his innings, turning his overnight century into a historic double-hundred. In doing so, he set new benchmarks for Indian cricket, recording the highest score by an Indian men's captain and the highest score by any Indian batter in England. His 387-ball epic was a lesson in concentration and control. He expertly worked the spinners for singles and punished any loose deliveries from the seamers, all while shouldering the responsibility of guiding a team with a reconfigured batting lineup.
Gill was brilliantly supported by India's spin-bowling all-rounders, vindicating the team's selection strategy. He first forged a 203-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who played an aggressive knock of 89. After Jadeja's departure, Gill combined with Washington Sundar for another crucial stand of 144, systematically taking the game away from England. This lower-order resistance was a direct response to the batting collapses India suffered in the first Test and proved to be a decisive factor.
The Bowlers Drive Home the Advantage
After his marathon innings, Gill's impact on the day was not yet over. He took a spectacular, acrobatic catch at third slip to dismiss Ben Duckett, giving debutant pacer Akash Deep his first Test wicket. Akash, who replaced the rested Jasprit Bumrah, struck again with his very next ball, finding the edge of Ollie Pope's bat to leave England stunned at 25 for 2.
The pressure was relentless. Mohammed Siraj, bowling a faultless opening spell, soon claimed the third wicket, inducing a classic edge from Zak Crawley with a delivery that moved away from the right-hander. This left England's two most experienced batters, Joe Root and Harry Brook, with the daunting task of surviving a fiery spell of fast bowling and navigating the final overs of the day. While they managed to put on a 52-run partnership, the damage had been done.
The day belonged entirely to India. Gill's captaincy decisions were bold, his batting was sublime, and his bowlers executed their plans to perfection. England now faces an almost insurmountable task, needing to bat for several days just to save the match. For India, it was a day where every strategic gamble paid off, putting them in an unassailable position to level the series.
