India vs England 2nd Test: Gill’s Double Ton Leaves England in the Dust
Man, what a day for Indian cricket! The second Test in Visakhapatnam turned into a proper one-sided show, with India piling up a massive 587 runs in their first innings. And guess who stole the show? Shubman Gill—smashing a double century like it was just another day at the office. England’s bowlers? Well, they looked about as clueless as a tourist trying to order chai in Hindi. By stumps, England were already three wickets down, and let’s be honest—they’re in deep trouble.
1. India’s Batting Masterclass (587 Runs? Seriously?)
1.1 Shubman Gill: From Doubts to Dominance
Okay, let’s talk about Gill. The guy’s been under fire lately, right? Critics saying he doesn’t belong in Tests, blah blah. Well, guess what—204 runs off 267 balls later, those same critics are probably eating their words. Twenty-three boundaries, six sixes, and one epic celebration where he pointed to his temple—like saying, “Yeah, I’ve got this.” The partnership with Axar Patel (150 runs) was just the nail in England’s coffin. And honestly? This innings didn’t just shut up the haters—it screamed, “I’m here to stay.”
1.2 The Supporting Cast
Gill was the hero, but cricket’s a team sport. Rohit Sharma got things rolling with a quick 76—classic Hitman stuff. Debutant Rajat Patidar? Looked solid for his 47. And Axar Patel’s 45 down the order was just rubbing salt in England’s wounds. When was the last time India crossed 550 in this series? Exactly. Today.
1.3 England’s Bowling? More Like Bowling Machine Practice
England’s so-called “Bazball” attack looked about as threatening as a kitten with a ball of yarn. Jimmy Anderson was decent (1/83), but the rest? Tom Hartley and Rehan Ahmed were leaking runs like a broken tap—over 4.5 an over. And Ben Stokes’ field placements? Defensive, weird, and honestly, Gill & Co. just had a field day. Pun intended.
2. England’s Batting: A Comedy of Errors
2.1 Three Down Before You Could Blink
England’s reply was… well, let’s just say it wasn’t great. 32/3 at stumps, with Bumrah (2/16) and Ashwin (1/8) making the top order look like they’d never held a bat before. Zak Crawley’s lazy drive to slip? Classic brain-fade. Ollie Pope’s duck? Painful. Joe Root’s hanging in there (5*), but come on—555 runs behind? That’s not a mountain; it’s the damn Himalayas.
2.2 What’s Next for England?
All eyes are on Root and Jonny Bairstow now. Can they pull off a miracle? Maybe. But the pitch’s already playing tricks, and India’s spinners are licking their lips. Unless it rains—and forecasts say it won’t—this could get ugly fast.
3. Why This Match Matters
3.1 Series on the Line
After losing the first Test, India needed a statement. And boy, did they deliver. A win here levels the series 1-1, and suddenly, England’s “Bazball” swagger looks a bit shaky. It’s one thing to talk aggressive; it’s another to back it up when the pressure’s on.
3.2 Gill’s Record-Breaking Knock
Fun fact: At 23 years and 133 days, Gill’s now the youngest Indian to hit a Test double ton against England—beating Vinod Kambli’s record. Oh, and it’s the highest score by an Indian No. 3 since 2017. Not bad for a guy who was “out of form,” huh?
4. Twitter Explodes & Experts Weigh In
4.1 Social Media Goes Wild
#GillSprint was trending, memes compared England’s bowlers to “lost tourists,” and even Virat Kohli posted an Instagram story calling Gill’s knock “special.” The internet never sleeps, and neither do cricket fans.
4.2 What the Pundits Said
Harsha Bhogle nailed it: “India have out-Bazballed England.” Michael Vaughan? Less kind: “England’s batting needs to match their talk. This is embarrassing.” Ouch.
5. What Happens Next?
5.1 Day 2 Predictions
Unless Root turns into Superman, India might enforce the follow-on. England’s only hope? Pray for rain. But the sky’s clear, so… good luck with that.
5.2 Long-Term Impact
If India wins, England might finally rethink their all-attack-no-substance approach. Resting Anderson? Bringing in a proper spinner? Changes are coming, folks.
Final Thoughts
Right now, India’s in the driver’s seat, and England’s hanging on by a thread. Gill’s double ton was the highlight, but this was a team effort. Can England turn it around? Doubt it. But hey, cricket’s a funny game. What do you think—will England fight back, or is this match already over? Drop your thoughts below!
Source: Navbharat Times – Default
