Edgbaston, England: India is firmly in control of the Test match against England, largely thanks to a monumental innings from captain Shubman Gill, who, by tea on day two, had smashed 265 not out, marking the highest-ever score by an Indian captain in Test cricket. This remarkable effort also saw him achieve his maiden Test double-hundred.
England’s bowlers endured another frustrating session, managing only a solitary wicket as their attack showed signs of fatigue. The lone breakthrough came from Joe Root, who dismissed Washington Sundar for 42.
India effortlessly passed 400 on the second morning and accelerated beyond 500 after lunch. Their strategy of packing the batting line-up with all-rounders – a response to their lower-order collapses at Headingley – has paid dividends. This approach has led to significant partnerships of 203 for the sixth wicket and 144 for the seventh wicket.
Gill, batting at No. 4, displayed exceptional class, navigating his third consecutive session without offering England a single clear chance. He masterfully milked singles off Shoaib Bashir, who bowled 21 unrewarded overs on the second day, and found boundaries across the ground with precision, capitalizing on playing the ball late.
Joe Root celebrated Washington Sundar’s dismissal with unusual vigor, cleaning him up with an off-break that spun past the outside edge just before tea. Curiously, Root was under-bowled by Ben Stokes, who experimented with various other options, including Harry Brook’s seldom-seen medium pace, in a desperate attempt to take wickets.
Washington Sundar had been troubled by Josh Tongue’s bouncer strategy before lunch but bravely took him on after the interval, hooking him for a six over long-leg. His support allowed Gill to cruise past several significant milestones, including surpassing the highest score by an Indian in England (previously 221) and the highest score by an Indian captain (previously 254*).
At the tea interval, there were no clear indications of an imminent declaration from India. They are exceptionally well-placed to record the highest total conceded by England in the Stokes-McCullum era, a record currently held by Pakistan with 579 in Rawalpindi (2022). Notably, on the three previous occasions that England has conceded over 550 runs under Stokes’ captaincy, they have ultimately gone on to win the match.