Birmingham– Shubman Gill has written a new chapter in Indian cricket history with a magnificent unbeaten 168 at Edgbaston on Day 2 of the second Test against England, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 2018 effort to set a new record for the highest Test score by an Indian captain at the venue.
Kohli’s 149, scored during the 2018 Test at the same ground, was widely regarded as one of the best innings by an Indian leader in English conditions. However, Gill’s performance has now raised that benchmark. Having taken over the Test captaincy after Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format, the 25-year-old has handled the responsibility with maturity and finesse.
Gill began the series with a commanding 147 at Headingley, though India fell short in that match. At Edgbaston, he followed it up with another composed and dominant display. His century made him only the fifth Indian batter to score a Test hundred at the ground, joining the ranks of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sachin Tendulkar, and Ravindra Jadeja.
His 168 not out also makes him just the second Indian captain to score 150 or more in a Test match in England, after Mohammad Azharuddin’s 179 at Manchester in 1990. Gill now holds the records for both the highest score by an Indian captain and the highest score by any Indian batter at Edgbaston.
At lunch on Day 2, India had reached 419 for six in 110 overs. Resuming from 310 for five, Gill continued to bat with calm authority and brought up his maiden 150 in Test cricket. He shared a massive 203-run sixth-wicket partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who contributed a valuable 89 before falling just before the break.
With Washington Sundar unbeaten on one, and rain forecast for Days 4 and 5, Gill will likely aim to stretch India’s total past the 500-run mark and solidify their position in the match. (Source: IANS)
