Shubman Gill's magnificent double century has propelled India into a commanding position in the second Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Gill's remarkable innings of 269 runs off 387 balls, his highest Test score, allowed India to post a formidable total of 587.
Gill's double century is particularly significant for several reasons. He became only the third Indian to score a Test double hundred in England, joining Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid. Furthermore, Gill is the first Indian captain to achieve this feat on English soil. This achievement also marks only the second instance of an Indian captain scoring a double century in an overseas Test, following Virat Kohli's double against the West Indies in 2016. He is also the first Asian captain to register a double century in SENA countries.
Resuming the day at 310 for five, Gill and Ravindra Jadeja continued to build a strong partnership, adding 203 runs off 279 balls. Gill's innings was a blend of elegance and power, featuring 30 fours and three sixes. He showcased his full array of strokes, driving and flicking the ball with precision.
While Gill was the day's undisputed star, other Indian batsmen also made valuable contributions. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 87, and Ravindra Jadeja added 89. Washington Sundar contributed a patient 42.
England's bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batsmen, with Shoaib Bashir being the most successful, taking three wickets for 167 runs. Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue each took two wickets.
After India's innings concluded, England faced a challenging task and their top order crumbled under pressure from the Indian pace attack. Akash Deep was particularly impressive, taking two wickets in his second over to dismiss Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope. Mohammed Siraj then removed Zak Crawley, leaving England reeling at 77 for three at stumps on day two. Joe Root and Harry Brook are at the crease, but England still trail by 510 runs.
Gill's double century not only put India in a dominant position in the Test but also etched his name in the record books. He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record for the highest score by an Indian outside the subcontinent. At 25 years and 298 days, Gill is also the second youngest Indian captain to score a Test double hundred, behind MAK Pataudi.
