England vs India: Shubman Gill shows character with 'masterful' record score of 269 as pressure shifts to Ben Stokes

Forward of his second match in one in all cricket’s most high-pressured positions, Shubman Gill should have been feeling the warmth.

India’s debuting captain oversaw a bewildering defeat at Headingley in a primary Check the place the vacationers have been – at completely different levels of their two innings – 430-3 and 333-4; the collapse within the latter kickstarted by Gill’s dismissal.

Then, in a transfer that solely drew confusion and concurrently put much more calls for on him with the bat, Gill and the India selectors opted to relaxation star bowler Jasprit Bumrah for Edgbaston, regardless of the eight-day hole between Checks.

All-rounders, however few specialists, have been chosen, and opposing captain Ben Stokes regarded to capitalise by promptly placing India in to bat on Wednesday morning.

However stress – and at 95-2 after which 211-5, there was nice stress – typically brings out the most effective of the easiest.

Gill, simply 25, has proved he’s firmly in that class over two mightily spectacular days in Birmingham, notching a career-best first-class rating of 269, which can be the very best any India batter has ever managed in England.

It was a knock filled with character.

Gill mixed endurance with pictures of sheer energy, as snug driving by means of the covers as he was coping with a plethora of quick deliveries – at all times seeming to current picture-perfect method whereas doing so.

A lot of his expertise has are available white-ball cricket – each as a captain and batter – however right here he has proven focus and steely willpower required to be a grasp in English situations, not that usually seen in a first-time captain who averaged simply 27 abroad heading into this tour.

“It has been a masterful efficiency from Gill – an completely chanceless innings,” mentioned Sky Sports activities Cricket’s Michael Atherton throughout his time on the crease, which included 30 fours and three sixes.

“He hasn’t regarded like giving England a sniff at any second and there was an air of inevitability about all of it.

“He is a beautiful driver by means of the offside, and has such a flowing recreation.”

A flat pitch helped, but it surely was additionally a pitch that Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley did not cope with late on Thursday, whereas Gill – and notably Ravindra Jadeja throughout their essential 200-plus partnership – regarded largely untroubled.

“This has been probably the most compact innings Gill has performed throughout his profession in Check cricket,” gushed Sky Sports activities Cricket’s Dinish Karthik, Gill’s former team-mate. “He has been managed each second on the crease.

“That exhibits you he’s a person positive of his method and he is aware of there aren’t any demons within the pitch however he has additionally managed his thoughts.”

Gill’s solely misstep was hooking Josh Tongue to Pope on his 387th ball, that error solely occurring when making an attempt to place his foot down with Virender Sehwag’s all-time India Check file – 313 – in his sights.

Making historical past together with his Check highest – his earlier greatest was 147 from the primary Check, exhibiting the shape he’s in – and an India file in England, needs to be solace.

It was solely becoming that Gill starred once more within the night, taking a luxurious catch from a Duckett edge to land India’s first wicket.

“He can’t put a foot fallacious, Shubman Gill,” mentioned Sky Sports activities Cricket’s Ravi Shastri; a quote that would have realistically been mentioned at any stage of the primary six periods of this Check.

The stress is now on Gill’s counterpart Stokes, with England ending the day on 77-3, and 510 runs behind India.

The important thing, in the meantime, for Gill, is banishing the reminiscences of Headingley and turning these spectacular stats, right into a much-needed victory.

Watch day three of the second Check between England and India reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Sky Sports activities Major Occasion from 10.15am Friday (11am first ball) or stream without a contract.