London: After exploding into international cricket four-and-a-half years ago, Shubman Gill was touted to be the next big batting sensation from India.
However, the youngster didn’t quite live up to expectations thereafter, getting his maiden Test century only in his 23rd innings. Even as he showed great consistency in ODIs, Gill’s Test record remained pedestrian for someone with so much talent. In his first 32 Tests, he aggregated just over 1,800 runs at a modest average of around 36.
Then came the England tour, and with it, the captaincy.
Just into the second match of the five-Test series, Gill already looks a transformed batter.
Ahead of the opening Test, he expressed the desire to be the team’s best batter and top scorer.
The captain has been true to his word.
Following his highest Test score of 147 in the Headingley Test last month, albeit in a losing cause, the 25-year-old right-hander surpassed himself with another classy knock – this time, a record-smashing 269 (387 balls, 30×4, 3×6) in the second match at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Unbeaten on 114 at stumps on Day 1, Gill pulled his team out of a none-too-bright position of 211/5 to take them to a massive 587 on Thursday.
Gill reached the coveted mark of 200 with a single down to fine leg off Josh Tongue.
Among the several feats he achieved, Gill put to shade legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Mohammed Azharuddin, Virat Kohli.
His 269 is he highest score now
SHUBMAN GILL’S ACHIEVEMENTS
* Gill made the highest score by an Indian in Tests in England – bettering Gavaskar’s 221 at The Oval in 1979 and Rahul Dravid’s 217 at The Oval in 2002
* Gill’s 269 is the highest score by an Indian captain in Tests, surpassing Kohli’s unbeaten 254 vs South Africa in Pune in 2019.
* Gill score is the highest by an Indian batter in Tests outside Asia, bettering Sachin Tendulkar’s 241 not out at Sydney in 2004
* Gill now has the third-highest score by an Indian in away Tests, behind Virender Sehwag’s 309 in Multan (2004) and Rahul Dravid’s 270 in Rawalpindi (2004).
* Gill is India’s third double-centurion in Tests in England, after Gavaskar’s 221 (1979) and Rahul Dravid’s 217 (2002), both at The Oval.
* Gill made best score by an Indian captain in England – going past Azharuddin’s 179 at Old Trafford in 1990
* Gill is only the fifth cricketer to score double tons in both Tests & ODIs – following Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle and Rohit Sharma
* Gill became 2nd-youngest Indian captain to hit a Test double century 200 at 25 years & 298 days — after MAK Pataudi (23 yrs 39 days).
