India skipper Shubman Gill scored a stunning career-best 269, while pacemen Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj blasted England's top order, making it a complete domination for the visitors on the second day of the second Test of Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Edgbaston on Thursday.
The day was consistently in the hands of Gill, as he justified his tag as India's batting ace this series. When India was wobbling at 211/5, a score in the area of 450 looked distant. But Gill stood tall, displaying unbelievable mettle and technical prowess to play a regal innings that redrew the record books.
Batting for more than eight hours, Gill scored the record highest individual Test score by an Indian batsman on English soil, as well as the highest-ever by an Indian captain in the history of Tests. His unflinching yet authoritative innings comprised 30 boundaries and three sixes, establishing his increasing stature in world cricket.
He was well-assisted by Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, who were all-rounders and contributed 89 and 42 runs respectively. Their stand of 203 for the sixth and 144 for the seventh wicket took India to a record score. England's bowling lacked resistance in a flat pitch with Shoaib Bashir having 3/167, while Chris Woakes (2/81) and Josh Tongue (2/119) also picked up the breakthroughs.
As a reaction, England closed the day on 77/3 in 20 overs, still behind by an intimidating 510 runs. Akash Deep, standing in for the rested Jasprit Bumrah, made a quick impression with 2/36, while Siraj came in to lend support with 1/21. Although Joe Root (18*) and Harry Brook (30*) were not out at stumps, the home team has a humongous task to accomplish on Day Three.
Gill's innings was a masterclass in balance and temperament, bringing together his natural aggression and measured defence. He became only the second Indian Test captain to make a double century in England and now stands on the seventh-highest individual score by an Indian in Tests.
The day started with Gill reaching the hundred with his innings against Jadeja through a leg-side single. The two batsmen punished Wookes in the early stages, and Jadeja then brought up his 23rd Test fifty with a trademark flick and then his trademark sword celebration.
Jadeja went on the attack, removing herself from boundaries for Stokes and Woakes, while Gill drove beautifully and benefited from a struggling Brydon Carse. The young captain belted Carse for two successive boundaries, employing both the short-arm jab and traditional drive. He reached 150 in style, taking 263 deliveries to achieve the milestone.
India's 400 came when Jadeja danced down the track to hit Bashir for a six, and Gill countered with another slog-sweep for six to celebrate the duo's 200-run stand.
The stand eventually ended in the 108th over as Tongue's short-pitched ball induced Jadeja into a fending shot, with the edge off the glove going to keeper Jamie Smith. After Jadeja's fall, Gill and Sundar played cautiously to ensure India did not lose more ground before lunch.
Gill continued his dominance during the second session in style, driving and lofting Bashir for a four and a six, respectively. He then fended off Tongue with a brace of boundaries, before Sundar joined in on the action with a four from Bashir and a six from Tongue.
Gill scored his double ton with a pulled shot off Tongue and punched the air with delight, getting on his knee and bowing to his team-mates and the crowd. He continued to demonstrate his mastery with boundaries off Bashir and Brook, eventually breaking through to 250 with a thick edge past the slip cordon.
Sundar's gritty stay came to an end at 42 (103 balls) when he was bowled by Joe Root. Undaunted, Gill drove Root for four as India put the second session firmly in the bank.
In the last session, Gill's batting masterclass came to an end when he tried a hook against Tongue but was caught by the fielder at square leg. The skipper's masterclass was applauded by the Edgbaston crowd. Bashir took the innings to an end by catching Akash Deep (at long-on) and stumping Siraj a few balls later.
England's response began at a swift pace with Zak Crawley dispatching two boundaries against Akash Deep. But the pacer hit back straight away, coaxing an edge from Ben Duckett, with Gill diving dramatically to catch it. Akash got the wicket on the very next delivery as well, ridding England of Ollie Pope through a sharp catch by KL Rahul at slip.
Siraj joined in, however, getting Crawley's edge and sending him back, caught by Karun Nair at first slip.
Root and Brook went on to steady England's innings with calm batting. Brook, in particular, was impressive with drives and flicks, scoring freely off Prasidh Krishna. The two were unbeaten when play closed, but with England still 510 runs short, India have all the aces going into Day Three.
Brief scores:
India 587 in 151 overs (Shubman Gill 269, Ravindra Jadeja 89, Yashasvi Jaiswal 87, Washington Sundar 42; Shoaib Bashir 3-167, Chris Woakes 2-81, Josh Tongue 2-119)
defeat England 77/3 in 20 overs (Harry Brook 30, Joe Root 18*; Akash Deep 2-36, Mohammed Siraj 1-21) by 510 runs.*
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