Skipper’s record 269 leads India to 587 all out; England 77/3 in reply
Birmingham: Shubman Gill earned himself a place in the pantheon of Indian batting heavyweights with a near flawless and record-breaking double hundred, giving his team complete control of the second Test against England here on Thursday.
Gill’s monumental 269 off 387 balls in his debut series as Test captain allowed India to post a massive 587 all out before the inexperienced Indian pace attack delivered upfront to dismantle England top-order to reduce the hosts to 77 for three at stumps on day two.
Joe Root (18 batting off 37) and Harry Brook (30 batting off 53) settled the nerves in the England dressing room after the hosts lost three wickets for 25 runs.
While England bowlers got no help from the surface, the Indians found swing and seam. Playing his first game of the series, Akash Deep struck twice in as many balls to cap off a perfect day for his team before Mohammed Siraj made it even better by having Zak Crawley caught at first slip.
But the day was truly ruled by Gill, who collected 30 fours and three sixes on way to a record shattering double ton.
making him the highest individual scorer for India in England ahead of Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid.
He also became the first Asian captain to amass a double hundred on these shores.
For someone who had expressed his desire to be the best batter of the series, he is well on course to meet his target.
In a matter of three innings in England, the 25-year-old has managed to improve his average to 40 from mid 30s at the start of the series.
Beyond the numbers, what makes Gill’s feat remarkable is that the high profile series is his first as Test captain.
Gill also ensured India didn’t lose grip like they had in Leeds. Shoaib Bashir was taken apart, prompting England to bring on part-timers Root and Brook. Gill struck five boundaries off Brook while Washington Sundar (42) resisted at the other end.
Gill eventually got to his 200 with a single off Tongue, celebrating the moment with emotion. Though dismissed soon after tea, his innings set the tone. Earlier, he and Jadeja (89) stitched a 203-run stand. Jadeja fell to Tongue, miscuing a short ball.
India, resuming at 310/5, added 109 runs in the morning. Both batters handled the short ball with ease, with Gill sweeping Bashir for six and Jadeja lofting him over mid-on.
