Lauderhill, July 3 — Shubman Gill scripted history with a breathtaking 269-run marathon knock as India piled on a massive 587 runs in their first innings against England on Day 2 of the ongoing Test match. The young skipper’s monumental effort laid the foundation for a potentially match-defining total, as England’s bowling unit toiled hard under the relentless sun and pressure.
Opting to bat first after England won the toss and chose to bowl, India made full use of the batting-friendly surface. After a cautious start on Day 1 where India ended at 310/5, the second day was dominated entirely by Gill and Ravindra Jadeja, who stitched together a game-changing 203-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Gill’s Grit and Grandeur
Captain Shubman Gill’s innings was a masterclass in temperament, shot selection, and endurance. Facing 387 deliveries, the 24-year-old hit 30 boundaries and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 69.51. His innings, which began on Day 1, carried through deep into Day 2, as he calmly neutralized every challenge thrown at him by England’s bowlers.
He finally fell for 269, caught by Ollie Pope off Josh Tongue, receiving a standing ovation from the Lauderhill crowd and the Indian dressing room alike. This is now Gill’s highest individual score in Test cricket and the third-highest by an Indian captain overseas.
Jadeja, Jaiswal, and Contributions Across the Order
Ravindra Jadeja once again proved his worth with the bat, scoring a classy 89 off 137 balls, including 10 fours and a six. His balanced approach perfectly complemented Gill’s dominance during their mammoth partnership. Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal had laid a solid foundation with a fluent 87 off 107 balls, laced with 13 boundaries, before falling to Ben Stokes.
The middle and lower-middle order provided small but significant contributions — Washington Sundar added 42 from 103 balls, while the tail-enders hung around long enough to frustrate the English bowlers and help India breach the 550-run mark.
England’s Bowling Woes
England’s bowling unit had a long, grinding two days. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir picked up 3 wickets for 167 runs in his 45 overs, while Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue managed two scalps each. Joe Root chipped in with the wicket of Sundar but couldn’t stem the flow of runs.
The pacers, including Brydon Carse (1/83) and Ben Stokes (1/74), looked undercooked and lacked the penetration needed on a relatively flat pitch. England’s fielding also lacked sharpness, with multiple chances slipping through fingers and misfields contributing to India’s massive score.
Fall of Wickets
India’s innings saw a steady flow of partnerships that wore down the English attack. The key moments included:
- KL Rahul (2) falling early to Chris Woakes.
- Karun Nair’s gritty 31 before falling to Carse.
- Jaiswal’s well-made 87 ending with a catch behind.
- A flurry of lower-order wickets only after the 550 mark had been crossed.
With 587 on the board, India have set the stage for their bowlers to apply pressure on England’s batting line-up. All eyes will now be on Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and the spin duo of Jadeja and Sundar as they attempt to exploit any signs of wear on the pitch.
England will need a mammoth effort from their top order to stay in the contest, and the pressure is now squarely on their batters, especially Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Zak Crawley.
Score Summary: India 1st Innings – 587 all out in 151 overs
- Shubman Gill (c) – 269 (387 balls, 30×4, 3×6)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – 87 (107 balls, 13×4)
- Ravindra Jadeja – 89 (137 balls, 10×4, 1×6)
- Washington Sundar – 42 (103 balls)
Fall of Wickets: 15-1 (Rahul), 95-2 (Karun Nair), 161-3 (Jaiswal), 208-4 (Pant), 211-5 (Nitish Reddy), 414-6 (Jadeja), 558-7 (Washington), 574-8 (Gill), 574-9 (Akash Deep), 587-10 (Prasidh)
Top Bowlers for England:
- Shoaib Bashir – 3/167 (45 overs)
- Josh Tongue – 2/119 (28 overs)
- Chris Woakes – 2/81 (25 overs)
