Birmingham, July 3, 2025: The second Test match of India’s tour of England 2025 at Edgbaston saw India assert their dominance on Day 2, driven by a historic performance from captain Shubman Gill and a disciplined bowling effort that left England reeling at 77/3, trailing by 510 runs. Shubman Gill‘s captain’s knock of 269 was the talking point after a complete India’s dominant performance on day 2.
India’s Batting Masterclass
India began Day 2 at 310/5, with Shubman Gill (114*) and Ravindra Jadeja (41*) at the crease. The duo extended their sixth-wicket partnership to 203 runs, with Jadeja contributing a solid 89 before being dismissed. Gill, however, was the standout performer, scoring a career-best 269, which is now the highest Test score by an Indian in England, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s 221. His innings included 30 boundaries and 3 sixes, spanning 387 deliveries and over 8 hours of batting.
Gill’s monumental knock was punctuated by significant partnerships. After Jadeja’s departure, he added 144 runs for the seventh wicket with Washington Sundar, who scored a composed 42. These partnerships propelled India to a massive 587 all out, a total that marks the highest England has conceded in the ‘Bazball’ era, surpassing Pakistan’s 579 in 2022. This is also the fourth time England has conceded 500+ runs in a Test innings, though they have won all three previous such matches.
Gill’s 269 set multiple records. At 25 years and 298 days, he became the youngest Indian captain to score a Test double hundred, surpassing MAK Pataudi’s record. His score also stands as the highest individual score by an Indian captain in Tests, beating Virat Kohli’s 254. Additionally, the 144-run stand with Sundar is the second-best seventh-wicket partnership for India in England.
England’s Bowling Struggles
England’s bowling unit faced a tough day, unable to curb India’s relentless scoring. Shoaib Bashir was the most expensive, conceding 167 runs for his 3 wickets, while Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue took 2 wickets each. England’s short-ball tactics proved ineffective, and their decision to use part-time bowlers Joe Root and Harry Brook yielded no breakthroughs. It was only late in the day that England managed to wrap up India’s innings, with Tongue dismissing Gill and Bashir removing debutant Akash Deep.
England’s Batting Woes
England’s response with the bat was shaky from the outset. Debutant Akash Deep made an immediate impact, striking twice in his first over to dismiss Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks, reducing England to 13/2 after just 3 overs. Mohammed Siraj added to England’s woes by dismissing Zak Crawley for 19, leaving the hosts at 25/3. A late fightback came through an unbeaten 52-run partnership between Harry Brook (30*) and Joe Root (18*), taking England to 77/3 at stumps. However, with a deficit of 510 runs, England face a monumental task to avoid an innings defeat.
Key Moments
- Akash Deep’s Double Strike: The debutant’s fiery opening spell saw him dismiss Duckett and Pope in quick succession, setting the tone for India’s bowling dominance.
- Gill’s Record-Breaking Innings: Gill’s 269 not only broke individual records but also demoralized England’s bowling attack, setting the stage for India’s commanding position.
- Brook and Root’s Resistance: The unbeaten 52-run partnership provided England with a glimmer of hope, though they remain significantly behind.
- India’s Session Dominance: India won all three sessions on Day 2, scoring 145 runs in 31 overs post-tea and taking crucial wickets in England’s innings.
Looking Ahead to Day 3
As the match progresses to Day 3, India are firmly in the driver’s seat. Their bowlers, particularly spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, may find assistance from a pitch that could start offering more turn. England, on the other hand, will rely heavily on Brook and Root to build a substantial partnership and take their score past the 100-run mark. With India’s pacers and spinners in fine form, England will need to bat with resilience to avoid an innings defeat and keep their hopes alive in the series.
Day 2 of the second Test match at Edgbaston was a showcase of India’s batting prowess and bowling discipline, led by Shubman Gill’s historic 269 and Akash Deep’s impactful debut. England, despite a late fightback from Brook and Root, find themselves in a precarious position, trailing by 510 runs with seven wickets in hand. The match is poised for an exciting Day 3, with India well-positioned to push for a series-levelling victory.
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