India stamped their authority on Day 1 of the second Test against England, riding high on a magnificent century by skipper Shubman Gill, who anchored the innings with a gritty 114* as the visitors reached 310/5 at stumps at Edgbaston, Birmingham
Batting first after winning the toss, India got off to a brisk start with Yashasvi Jaiswal playing a fluent knock of 87 off 107 balls, laced with 13 crisp boundaries. His aggressive strokeplay rattled the English bowling early on, setting the tone for the day. However, England struck back momentarily when Ben Stokes removed Jaiswal and Chris Woakes bowled out KL Rahul for just 2 runs in a cautious 26-ball stay.
Karun Nair contributed a steady 31 before being caught behind by Harry Brook off Brydon Carse, but the real show belonged to Gill, who showcased temperament, class, and resilience across his marathon 216-ball innings. As wickets fell around him, the Indian captain stood firm, orchestrating a steady recovery and taking India past the 300-run mark.
Rishabh Pant added 25 with his usual flair, including a six, before falling to Shoaib Bashir, while Nitish Kumar Reddy couldn’t make an impact, managing only 1. The late resistance came from Ravindra Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 41 off 67 balls, providing a solid partnership with Gill as the day closed.
England, on the other hand, toiled hard on a pitch offering little assistance. Chris Woakes was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 2 for 59 in 21 overs. Carse and Stokes took a wicket each, but the English attack lacked the venom needed to break India’s rhythm. Young pacer Josh Tongue went wicketless and proved expensive, conceding 66 runs in 13 overs.
With India looking poised for a massive first-innings total and England struggling to find breakthroughs, Day 2 could be a long haul for the hosts unless they strike early. As it stands, the momentum firmly belongs to India, and England have plenty to ponder if they hope to level the series.