Young India batsman Shubman Gill was virtually playing in India’s second innings in the Vizag Test against England for his place in the side with Virat Kohli expected to return and Sarfaraz Khan waiting in the wings.
With an average of 25 since the start of 2023 to the start of his knock on Sunday in Vizag, Shubman Gill was on thin ice. The 24-year-old responded with a brilliant century that helped India extend their lead from 171 at the start of the day to 398 by the conclusion of the innings. This hundred from the youngster was crucial both for himself to retain his position in the XI and also for the management which had invested and put faith in him for a while despite his lean run in recent times.
However, Gill’s innings could have cut down very early in his stay as he survived not one, not two, but three lucky escapes before he had even scored 20 runs.
Shreyas told me to take the review: Shubman Gill
He was given out lbw off Tom Hartley’s bowling on just the seventh ball that he faced, and rapped on the pads on a forward defense in front of the stumps. Shubman Gill didn’t look confident at all even while reviewing. However, upon review, it was found that he had managed a thick inside edge on the ball before it went to hit his pads. He had a big grin as he was declared not out.
Gill later revealed that he hadn’t realized that he had gotten an inside edge, and it was on Shreyas Iyer’s insistence that he took the DRS.
Speaking with broadcaster Jio Cinema at the end of day’s play, Shubman Gill said, “The first one I didn’t feel it (inside edge onto pad). Shreyas told me to take it in case it’s umpire’s call. I didn’t knew there was an edge.”
He survived another lbw call which was umpire’s call and was given not out on the field before Joe Root missed a catch at first slip. Gill scored 104 runs in India’s innings of 255. By stumps, England have scored 67/1 in the chase of 399.
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