Captain fantastic Gill puts India in driver's seat with double ton as England lose early wickets

India's day, through and through! How India would have loved one more wicket, but it's being a bit too greedy, right? 587 runs in the first innings after losing the toss and then reducing England to three wickets down before the end of the day's play and the trail being still over 500 - India would have taken this any day of the week. It was a day India would be mighty proud of, pleased with and now even more motivated to make the third day decisive, despite missing two of their most attacking bowlers in the squad.

It was a day that belonged to Shubman Gill. England skipper Ben Stokes came with plans and several funky fielding setups, having a long leg, an in-between fine leg and a square leg while having a couple of them around the bat to completely shut down the scoring options for both Gill and Ravindra Jadeja, the set batters from overnight for India. Both took their time, especially Gill, who was a picture of calm and composure.

Gill, with a bit tighter technique and improved stance, didn't let any of the bowlers get past him, whether pace or spin. Ravindra Jadeja did get a bit twitchy, especially with the crowded field around him, tying him. However, Gill, by playing an odd reverse sweep, a slog sweep for six off Shoaib Bashir, would calm things down again for Jadeja at the other end.

This combination batting irritated England even more. Gill got to his 150 while Jadeja was closing in on his century. Just when it looked like India would go unscathed through to lunch, Josh Tongue got one delivery to shoot off, catching Jadeja unawares, taking his gloves straight through to



the keeper. But Gill marched on.

Washington Sundar, the new batter, recovered from a very tentative and poke-y start to his innings to hit a couple of boundaries and hook one for a six when England brought the fielders close to deny him singles with the captain inching towards his maiden double century. Gill completed the century, with much calmer celebrations, breaking one record after another, slowly taking India towards a total they'd feel confident would be enough.

Sundar was sent back by a peach of a delivery by Joe Root. Even though Sundar would have been disappointed with his dismissal, the amount of turn would have surely had him licking his lips, as he would also bowl on the same surface. Gill increased the tempo of scoring as India's total breached the 550-mark. 

England finally had a sigh of relief with Tongue gulping up another late wicket, but this was a tired Gill, who just wanted to push India's score to 600, somehow. Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj did their bit and India did get mightily close to that number. However, now they had an opportunity to get a few wickets against an England team, which was on the field for over 150 overs.

And the returning Akash Deep struck, dismissing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in consecutive deliveries. He was even on a hat-trick. A few overs later, Siraj drew blood, as Zak Crawley fell cheaply yet again and England were in absolute tatters. Harry Brook and Joe Root took their side safely to stumps, but both will have their task cut out when they come out on the third morning of the Test match as India believe.