Shubman Gill is known for a calm persona, but the India captain revealed a rare flash of emotion when he raised his seventh Test hundred on day one of the second Test at Edgbaston. Gill’s roar, reminiscent of Virat Kohli’s iconic celebration in 2018, was a release after days of scrutiny over his leadership, India’s team selection, and the decision to rest Jasprit Bumrah while again sidelining Kuldeep Yadav.
Century under scrutiny
Gill entered the match facing questions about defensive tactics in the Leeds defeat, where England chased 371. Critics argued that India’s bowling lacked bite without a second frontline spinner. Gill responded with a measured yet authoritative knock, weathering early movement before unfurling fluent drives, cuts, and pulls. His sweep off Joe Root just before the second new ball took him to three figures and made him only the fourth Indian to score centuries in his first two Tests as captain, joining Virat Kohli, Vijay Hazare, and Sunil Gavaskar.
Selection debate intensifies
India’s lineup again omitted Kuldeep Yadav, opting instead for extra batting depth with seam‑bowling all‑rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and off‑spinning all‑rounder Washington Sundar. The choice drew criticism after Ravindra Jadeja’s modest returns in recent Tests. Bumrah was rested to manage workload, but many fans felt India needed his strike power on a surface offering little pace.
Gill’s hundred did not mask the selection storm. Former players questioned how Kuldeep, with 56 wickets from just 13 Tests at a strike rate of 37, could remain on the bench when England struggled against wrist spin in the past. The left‑arm unorthodox bowler’s absence was particularly noticeable after India failed to take crucial wickets on day five in Leeds.
Roar of relief and intent
Gill’s celebration suggested relief as much as triumph. In his first spell of leadership he has balanced field changes, media scrutiny, and rising expectations to deliver back‑to‑back hundreds. Critics of his overseas record have been answered with three centuries in his last three Tests against England, a sign that captaincy has elevated his focus.
As the match progresses, India will hope Gill’s statement innings inspires a sharper bowling effort. Without Bumrah’s cutting edge, bowlers like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna must provide breakthroughs, while Jadeja and Washington need to exploit any late turn. Whether Gill’s roar signals a turning point in the series will depend on the bowlers converting his batting platform into a first‑innings lead and, eventually, twenty wickets.
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