India vs England 2nd Test 2025: India responded confidently to England’s decision to bowl first as captain Shubman Gill anchored the innings with a patient century, guiding his side to a strong 310/5 at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test at Edgbaston. Gill remained unbeaten on 114 off 216 balls — a captain’s knock that underlined composure, determination, and class.
The visitors were rocked early when KL Rahul, returning from injury, struggled to get going and was bowled by Chris Woakes for just 2 off 26 deliveries. However, it was the ever-aggressive Yashasvi Jaiswal who once again stamped his authority at the top, scoring a fluent 87 from 107 balls, laced with 13 boundaries. His 80-run partnership with Karun Nair brought India back on track after the early blow.
Karun Nair, making a comeback after a long hiatus from Test cricket, looked assured in his 31-run knock before falling to Brydon Carse. But the platform was set for the captain.
Gill, who walked in at No.4, was calm and collected even as wickets kept falling at the other end. He first stitched a vital 66-run stand with Jaiswal and then built steady partnerships with Rishabh Pant (47 runs) and Ravindra Jadeja (unbroken 99-run stand) to keep the scoreboard moving and England at bay.
Pant, trying to counter-attack, hit a six but was dismissed for 25, caught by Crawley off Shoaib Bashir. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed in the domestic circuit and IPL, couldn’t make an impact and was bowled by Woakes for just 1.
Ravindra Jadeja, however, played a classic supporting role, remaining unbeaten on 41 off 67 balls. His presence ensured that Gill could continue his innings without pressure. The duo looked solid and left England searching for breakthroughs late into the evening session.
From England’s perspective, Chris Woakes was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/59 in his 21 overs with exceptional control. Ben Stokes and Shoaib Bashir claimed one wicket each, while Brydon Carse also chipped in. Josh Tongue, however, looked expensive and went wicketless in his 13 overs.
The pitch at Edgbaston offered some early movement but flattened out as the day progressed. India will look to build on their solid foundation on Day 2, while England will hope for early breakthroughs to avoid chasing a big first-innings score.
With Gill set, Jadeja settled, and Washington Sundar yet to come, India eye a total well beyond 400 — a score that could challenge England’s deep batting lineup on a pitch likely to deteriorate.
Brief Scorecard – Day 1 Stumps:
India 1st Innings: 310/5 in 85 overs
Shubman Gill (C) 114 (216), Yashasvi Jaiswal 87 (107), Ravindra Jadeja 41* (67); Chris Woakes 2/59, Ben Stokes 1/58
Day 2 Outlook:
The second day promises another exciting session of Test cricket. All eyes will be on whether Gill can convert his century into a double and if Jadeja continues to frustrate the English bowlers.
