India captain Shubman Gill etched his name in the record books with a monumental 269 as his team asserted complete control over England on Day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston. Gill’s innings, now the highest by an Indian on English soil, formed the backbone of the side's commanding first-innings total of 587.
Coming in at a precarious situation with his team reeling at 111/3 on Day 1, Gill showcased remarkable composure and flair. His defining moment came in a 203-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (89), which lifted India from a shaky 211/5 to a position of dominance. Jadeja’s gritty resistance allowed Gill the freedom to flourish, and together they wore down a listless England bowling attack on a placid batting surface.
Washington Sundar chipped in with a useful 42, while the lower order added crucial runs to push India past the 580-run mark. England’s bowlers toiled for little reward, with off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and pacer Josh Tongue picking up wickets but never quite threatening to derail India’s charge.
In response, England’s top order crumbled under the pressure of an imposing total. Pacer Akash Deep, playing just his second eighth Test, struck early with two quick wickets, while Mohammed Siraj added a third to leave the hosts reeling at 33/3.
It took a resilient effort from Joe Root and Harry Brook to arrest the slide, the duo compiling an unbeaten 44-run stand that saw England reach 77/3 at stumps. England still trail by a daunting 510 runs.
With conditions still favourable for batting, England face an uphill battle to avoid the follow-on and stay in the contest. India, meanwhile, will look to tighten the noose further on Day 3 and press for a victory that could not only pull them back on level terms in the series, but also give the side enough confidence going into the third match of the five-match series at Lord's.
