Cricket
Gill’s Grit and Glory: Captain’s Century Steers India to Commanding Start
Ray Sportz Web Desk: On a cloudy morning in Birmingham, when the ball was expected to talk, it was Shubman Gill who did all the talking — with his bat. Leading from the front, the young Indian captain crafted a sublime unbeaten 114 to anchor India to a solid 310/5 at stumps on Day 1 of the 2nd Test against England.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, England’s pacers made early inroads, but a resilient Indian top order led by Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) and a late flourish from Ravindra Jadeja (41)* helped the visitors reclaim control.
England’s bowlers, led by Chris Woakes (2/59), found some success under overcast skies but failed to break the crucial 99-run stand between Gill and Jadeja late in the day.
With the new ball looming and India eyeing a 400-plus total, the stage is set for a thrilling Day two.