Shubman Gill Shines with Historic Double Century in Test Against England
Shubman Gill's Remarkable Achievement
The cricketing community is buzzing with excitement as Team India's Test captain, Shubman Gill, achieved a remarkable milestone by scoring his first double century during the second Test match against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on July 4.
Gill's outstanding performance saw him score 269 runs off 387 balls, propelling India to a formidable total of 587 in their first innings.
Record-Breaking Innings
In his impressive innings, the 25-year-old shattered multiple records, including becoming the Indian captain with the highest individual score, the Indian batter with the most runs in a Test innings in England, and the first Asian captain to achieve a Test double century in SENA countries. He is also the fourth Indian player to score double centuries in both Tests and ODIs, and the third Indian to hit a Test double ton in England.
Celebrating Success with a Throwback
On the day of his historic achievement, the Punjab Cricket Association shared an old interview of Gill to commemorate his success. In the interview, he emphasized the importance of maintaining composure at the crease and avoiding risky aerial shots, stating that his primary goal was to represent Team India.
"In Test cricket, getting out early means missing out on valuable time. The longer you stay, the more runs you can accumulate," Gill explained. He also mentioned, "If there's a loose ball, I take my chance, but my ultimate aim is to play for India."
Yes, Shubman Gill… you didn’t just lead — you ruled. From the heart of Punjab to the soul of Indian cricket, you’ve shown the world what royalty on the pitch looks like. Not just a captain — a force, a fire, a future written in gold. Crowns aren’t worn — they’re earned…
Gill's Journey to Captaincy
Shubman Gill made his international debut in a Test match against Australia in 2021 and quickly established himself as a key player across formats. Following Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket, Gill was entrusted with the captaincy for the ongoing Test series against England.
This series marks Gill's first significant challenge as a Test captain and the start of India's new World Test Championship Cycle. He leads a revamped Indian Test squad amid the transition phase following the retirements of notable players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
Support from Teammates
Gill's double century was bolstered by significant partnerships with Ravindra Jadeja (203 runs for the sixth wicket) and Washington Sundar (144 runs for the seventh wicket), helping India surpass the 500-run mark in a Test innings in England for the first time in 18 years. The last instance was in 2007 when India scored 664 all out at the Oval.
After India was bowled out for 587 in 151 overs, England began their first innings. Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley aimed to stabilize the innings, but Akash Deep made an early impact by dismissing Duckett for a duck and then removing Ollie Pope for a golden duck on the next ball.
Mohammed Siraj further weakened England's top order by taking out Zak Crawley for 19, leaving England at 25/3 in just 7.1 overs. By the end of Day 2, England had managed to score 77 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs, trailing India by 510 runs, with Joe Root and Harry Brook at the crease.