During the second Test match against England at Edgbaston, Shubman Gill, the Indian captain, experienced a mixed reception from the crowd. While receiving treatment on his back during the final session of Day 1, a section of the Edgbaston crowd began to boo him. However, the mood shifted dramatically when Gill completed his century, with the Bharat Army leading the cheers and applause.
Gill's treatment occurred towards the end of the 76th over when he felt discomfort in his back and requested the team physio. The physio attended to Gill's lower back, an area that had previously troubled him, and also worked on his left leg. As the treatment длился for about four to five minutes, some members of the Edgbaston crowd grew impatient and started booing, seemingly urging him to continue playing.
Despite the negative reaction from a portion of the crowd, Gill remained unfazed. Shortly after the treatment, he resumed his innings and demonstrated his resilience by hitting consecutive boundaries off Joe Root, reaching his seventh Test century. This achievement marked his second consecutive century as captain in the series against England. With the century, Gill joined an elite group of Indian players who have scored centuries in their first Test as captain.
The atmosphere at Edgbaston transformed instantly as Gill reached his century. The boos were replaced by thunderous applause and cheers, with the Bharat Army, a group of Indian cricket supporters, celebrating exuberantly.
Gill's innings was crucial in anchoring India's batting performance after they were put in to bat first. He formed significant partnerships with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja, demonstrating his importance to the team's batting lineup. Gill's century came off 199 balls and included 11 boundaries.
Earlier in the day, Jaiswal missed out on his century by 13 runs, getting dismissed for 87 by Ben Stokes. Rishabh Pant contributed 25 runs before being dismissed, while Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten. For England, Chris Woakes took two wickets, while Stokes, Brydon Carse, and Shoaib Bashir each claimed one wicket.
Shubman Gill's journey to becoming India's Test captain has been met with scrutiny, with some questioning his place in the team. However, Gill has answered his critics by performing exceptionally well, including a prior century in the first Test at Headingley. The Bharat Army even created a song to celebrate Gill's century and his captaincy.
