Shubman Gill’s third Test century propelled India into a position of strength on Day 3 of the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam. At Tea, India had reached 227/6, enjoying a commanding lead of 370 runs over their opponents. Gill’s brilliant knock of 104, supported by Axar Patel’s patient 45, revived India after they experienced a wobbly start reminiscent of the first Test. With an 89-run partnership between Gill and Patel, India overcame their early struggles and took firm control of the match.
Gill assumed a significant portion of the scoring responsibility, displaying simplicity in his approach and using his feet effectively against the bowlers. He expertly navigated the challenges presented by England Test skipper Ben Stokes, who constantly tweaked his field settings to create traps for the Indian batsmen. Gill’s innings came to an end when he gloved a reverse sweep to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes off the bowling of Shoaib Bashir. Initially given not out by the on-field umpire, Gill was eventually dismissed following a successful review by England.
Gill’s century, which consisted of 11 boundaries and two sixes, was instrumental in guiding India to a position of strength. Axar Patel played an anchor role, rotating the strike and providing stability as Gill attacked the English bowlers. However, Patel eventually fell victim to Tom Hartley’s delivery, getting trapped in front of the stumps. This brought Ravichandran Ashwin to the crease, who partnered with KS Bharat to ensure India maintained their control over the match.
India’s dominant position was a result of a strong recovery after early setbacks. At the start of the session, India had Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the crease, hoping to build a substantial lead. However, both openers fell early to the impressive James Anderson, leaving India at 30/2.
Nevertheless, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill steadied the innings with an impressive partnership. Gill’s aggressive strokeplay, including a six off Rehan Ahmed to bring up a 200-run lead, helped India establish their dominance. However, Iyer’s struggles in Test cricket continued, as he failed to provide the required elevation to a full-length delivery from Hartley, resulting in a catch for Ben Stokes. India was further reduced to 111/3 with Iyer’s dismissal.
Fresh debutant Rajat Patidar also failed to make a significant impact, departing for just nine runs after being caught by Ben Foakes off Rehan’s bowling. The partnership between Bharat and Ashwin slowed down the scoring rate, as England managed to bowl five maiden overs during their time at the crease.
At the end of Tea, India had reached a strong position at 227/6, with a lead of 370 runs. Gill’s century had been the cornerstone of India’s innings, supported by Axar Patel’s contribution. With Bharat and Ashwin at the crease, India would hope to extend their lead further before declaring their second innings. England, on the other hand, faced an uphill battle to regain control of the match. The third session of Day 3 promised to be crucial in determining the outcome of the second Test between the two sides.
