India vs England 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights: Shubman Gill’s Century Leads India’s Strong Start

Introduction

The India vs England 2nd Test began today at Edgbaston, Birmingham, witnessing an intriguing contest between India’s young batting line-up and England’s Bazball aggression. This Test follows India’s loss in the 1st Test, making it crucial for the visitors to bounce back.

Toss and Pitch Report

England won the toss and elected to bowl first, banking on overcast conditions to support seam movement early on. The Edgbaston pitch showed a slight green tinge but is expected to ease out for batting as the match progresses.

Pitch Details

• Venue: Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham

• Nature: Slightly green on Day 1, with good carry and bounce

• Spinners’ role: Will increase from Day 3 onwards

• Batting conditions: Good for strokeplay once settled

India’s Playing XI and Day 1 Batting Performance

Playing XI

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal – 87 (107 balls)

2. KL Rahul – 2 (26 balls)

3. Karun Nair – 31 (50 balls)

4. Shubman Gill (Captain) – 114* (216 balls)

5. Rishabh Pant (Wicketkeeper) – 25 (42 balls)

6. Nitish Kumar Reddy – 1 (6 balls)

7. Ravindra Jadeja – 41* (67 balls)

8. Washington Sundar

9. Akash Deep

10. Mohammed Siraj

11. Prasidh Krishna

(Note: Sundar, Akash Deep, Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna are yet to bat)

Key Highlights

Shubman Gill’s Century

Gill anchored the innings with a composed 114 off 216 balls*, ensuring India stayed steady despite early wickets. His technique against seam movement was lauded, especially drives on the up against Anderson and Woakes.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Positive Knock

Jaiswal continued his rich form scoring 87 runs off 107 balls, combining aggression with solid defense. His dismissal to Root’s off-spin ended a crucial opening stand.

Middle Order Collapse

KL Rahul fell cheaply for 2 runs while Nitish Kumar Reddy managed just 1 run. Karun Nair played confidently for 31 off 50 balls, stabilising India before getting trapped LBW by Wood. Rishabh Pant looked fluent but was dismissed for 25 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja’s Composure

Jadeja ended the day unbeaten on 41 runs off 67 balls, supporting Gill effectively as India reached 301/5 at stumps on Day 1.

England’s Bowling Analysis

• James Anderson: Economical spells troubling Rahul and Nair

• Mark Wood: Extracted bounce and pace, crucial in middle overs

• Joe Root: Provided a breakthrough by dismissing Jaiswal

• Chris Woakes: Maintained tight lines, preventing free scoring

What to Expect on Day 2

Pitch Behaviour

The pitch is expected to remain good for batting on Day 2 with minimal movement under sunshine. Spin will enter play from Day 3, meaning Jadeja and Sundar could play key roles in the 4th innings.

Future Performance Predictions

• Shubman Gill: Set for a potential 150+ if he continues his focus

• Jadeja: Could accelerate to take India beyond 400

• England’s batting: Will depend on negotiating India’s pacers under fresh conditions

FAQ

Q1. Who won the toss in the India vs England 2nd Test?

A. England won the toss and chose to bowl first at Edgbaston.

Q2. What is Shubman Gill’s score in the 2nd Test Day 1?

A. Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 114 runs off 216 balls on Day 1.

Q3. How did India’s batting line-up perform today?

A. India ended Day 1 at 301/5, with significant contributions from Gill (114*), Jaiswal (87), and Jadeja (41*).

Q4. Where is the 2nd Test between India and England being played?

A. The match is being played at Edgbaston Cricket Ground, Birmingham.

Helpful Resources

1. India vs England 2nd Test full coverage – Times of India

2. Live scorecard – ESPN Cricinfo

Conclusion

The India vs England 2nd Test is perfectly poised with Shubman Gill’s century setting the stage for a strong first innings total. India will aim for 450+ runs to challenge England’s Bazball approach and level the series.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Day 2 updates with complete session-wise highlights and tactical analysis.