ENG vs IND 2nd Test: India made a strong comeback on the basis of Shubman Gill’s century, scored 310 runs on the first day

Captain Gill Shines with Century on Day 1 of Second Test Against England

The second match of the highly anticipated Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series between India and England began on July 2 at the historic Edgbaston ground in Birmingham. India, after losing the toss, was invited to bat first by England captain Ben Stokes. Despite a rocky start, Team India managed to end the first day on a strong note, thanks to a magnificent unbeaten century by captain Shubman Gill.

Gill, leading the team for only the second time in Test cricket, showed remarkable composure and class to steer India to a competitive position. He brought up the seventh Test century of his career and remained unbeaten on 114 runs at the end of the day’s play*. With this knock, he also became the fourth Indian captain to score a hundred in his first two matches as captain. His performance not only anchored the Indian innings but also helped rebuild after a middle-order wobble. Alongside him, Ravindra Jadeja provided excellent support, staying not out on 41 runs*. Their unbeaten partnership of 99 runs for the sixth wicket proved vital in stabilizing India’s innings.

England vs India: Day 1 Summary

After winning the toss, England opted to bowl first under slightly overcast conditions, hoping to take advantage of the morning movement. Their decision was immediately rewarded as Indian opener KL Rahul was bowled by Chris Woakes for just 2 runs, putting India on the back foot early.

However, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal showed attacking intent and took the pressure off by playing a fluent innings. He struck 13 boundaries in his knock of 87 runs off 107 balls, setting a strong tone before he was dismissed, just short of a well-deserved century.

The middle order could not capitalize on the solid platform. Karun Nair and Rishabh Pant played short yet promising innings of 31 and 25 runs respectively, but neither could convert their starts into big scores. Pant, known for his counter-attacking style, looked dangerous but was dismissed while trying to accelerate.

Youngster Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was included in the squad with high hopes, fell cheaply. Trying to leave a delivery from Woakes, Reddy misjudged the line and was bowled for just 1 run. This brought India down to 211 for 5, and England sensed an opportunity to wrap up the innings quickly.

But captain Gill and all-rounder Jadeja had other plans. They batted with patience and confidence, gradually rebuilding the innings and frustrating the English bowlers. Gill, in particular, showed why he is considered one of the most promising young batters in world cricket. He paced his innings beautifully, picking gaps, rotating the strike, and punishing bad deliveries. His calm under pressure and ability to shift gears when needed were key to India’s recovery.

England’s Bowling on Day 1

From the bowling side, Chris Woakes was the pick of the English bowlers, taking 2 wickets and maintaining tight lines throughout his spells. Brydon Carse, Ben Stokes, and Shoaib Bashir took one wicket each, but none of them could deliver breakthroughs in the final session as the pitch began to flatten out and the ball softened.

Looking Ahead

India finished Day 1 at 310/5 after 85 overs, putting themselves in a decent position to build a big total on Day 2. With Shubman Gill already set and looking solid, and Ravindra Jadeja known for his resilience, India will aim to cross the 400-run mark and put pressure on the English side.

Gill’s performance will be remembered as a captain’s knock—gritty, determined, and full of class. If India goes on to dominate this Test, much credit will go to the foundation laid by the young skipper on Day 1.