Gill’s Record-Breaking Hundred, Pant’s Fireworks Push India’s Lead to 484 on Day Four of Second Test
Shubman Gill transformed into a relentless run-scoring machine on Saturday, dazzling fans and frustrating England’s bowlers as he struck his third century in just four innings to firmly place India in the driver’s seat on the fourth day of the second Test.
His majestic knock propelled India to a commanding second-innings total of 304 for 4 by tea, stretching their overall lead to a daunting 484 runs over England at the end of the second session.
It was a day of milestones, partnerships, and bold strokes — none more memorable than Gill’s remarkable century, his second of the match.
He reached the three-figure mark just moments before the tea break, pushing a single off Shoaib Bashir to etch his name in the record books.
It was a subdued celebration from the young batting sensation, a gesture that underlined his deep focus on helping India level the Test series after a setback in the opening match.
In this century, following his double ton in the first innings, Gill surpassed a long-standing record held by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.
The iconic opener had scored 344 runs in a single Test during India’s tour of the West Indies in 1971 at Port of Spain. Gill’s latest feat now places him as the Indian with the most runs scored in a single Test match, a historic achievement in itself.
The young batter shifted gears dramatically after lunch. While he had absorbed pressure early in the day, Gill switched to an aggressive mode as the second session progressed.
His strokeplay against the England bowlers — particularly the pace duo of Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse — displayed a blend of elegance and controlled aggression.
Tongue’s attempt to test Gill with short-pitched bowling backfired, as the right-hander responded by pulling him over fine leg twice in confident fashion. Later, he hammered a flat-batted boundary that showcased his quick reflexes and superior hand-eye coordination.
Adding to India’s dominance in the session was wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who once again entertained with his audacious strokeplay. He joined Gill at the crease and wasted no time asserting himself.
The pair added a crucial 110-run stand for the fourth wicket, with Pant contributing a brisk 65 off just 58 deliveries. True to his unpredictable and thrilling style, Pant launched an aggressive assault on the bowlers, most notably launching a six and a four off Josh Tongue shortly after arriving at the crease.
He also pulled off a remarkable falling pickup shot against Ben Stokes that had the crowd roaring in appreciation.
Pant’s entertaining stay at the crease came to an end in typical fashion. Attempting to launch Bashir for another towering six, Pant lost control of his bat in a wild heave and was caught out. Despite the dismissal, his innings injected tremendous energy into the Indian innings and helped India maintain momentum through the middle session.
Earlier in the day, India resumed their innings with overnight batters looking solid. However, the morning belonged to England’s bowlers, who bowled with venom in overcast conditions.
Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue extracted life from a 113-year-old ball that had begun to move in the air and off the pitch.
Carse drew first blood when he dismissed Karun Nair for 26. The pressure was building steadily with disciplined bowling, and Nair, having earlier struck a boundary, was lured into another drive and edged the ball to the keeper.
It was a reward for Carse’s persistence, who had already troubled Nair in the first innings with a brutal bouncer that had struck the batter on the helmet and prompted a concussion check.
KL Rahul, who looked in good touch and compiled a stylish 55 off 84 deliveries, fell to a beautiful delivery from Josh Tongue that straightened after pitching and clipped the middle stump.
Rahul had earlier driven fluently through the off-side, but his dismissal left India at 177 for three at lunch.
With the pitch still offering occasional bounce and seam movement, the session after lunch was expected to be crucial, and India made the most of it.
Gill and Pant launched a counterattack that left England’s bowlers visibly frustrated. The home side scored 127 runs in just 30 overs during the second session, accelerating rapidly and giving themselves ample time to push for a result.
The crowd at the venue witnessed a blend of elegance and raw power, from Gill’s textbook drives and calculated pulls to Pant’s fearless slog sweeps and improvised shots.
Towards the end of the session, a comedic moment lightened the intensity: Pant, in attempting a wild slog, lost grip of his bat, which flew behind him as Jamie Smith calmly collected the ball behind the stumps.
As tea was called, the scoreboard showed India in complete control of the Test match, with a mammoth lead and two in-form batters having thoroughly demoralized the visiting English side.
With one session left in the day and a full day’s play to follow, the focus now shifts to how aggressively India will push for a win, and whether England can withstand the final onslaught.
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