NEW DELHI:Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar heaped praise on India’s captain Shubman Gill after his composed, unbeaten century on Day 1 of the second Test against England, calling it a “classy knock” and highlighting Gill’s poise under pressure. The young skipper struck a flawless 114* to guide India to 310/5 at stumps, sharing an unbroken 99-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (41*), who offered critical support in the final session.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Tendulkar commended both Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal for their standout performances:
“@ybj_19 set the tone from ball one. He was positive, fearless and smartly aggressive. @ShubmanGill was cool as ever, calm under pressure, solid in defence and in total control. Classy knocks from both. Well played, boys!”
India, looking to bounce back from the Leeds defeat, made three changes to the playing XI in search of greater batting depth. England, meanwhile, fielded an unchanged side and opted to bowl first under overcast conditions. Early on, England’s seamers—especially Chris Woakes—made the most of the new ball, but despite some early movement and bounce, managed only a single breakthrough in the morning.
It was Jaiswal who laid the foundation with a fluent 87, delivering a counterattacking masterclass that lifted India after KL Rahul’s early dismissal. The opener forged vital 50-plus stands with Karun Nair and Gill, playing with a blend of flair and maturity that kept England’s bowlers on the defensive.
“Batting with Gill was amazing. He’s clear in his head, confident as a captain, and knows what the team needs,” Jaiswal said in the post-day press conference. “The mindset in the team is simple—if you’re set, you take it deep. That’s what we’re all committed to.”
Gill, unfazed by a mid-innings collapse that saw India lose three quick wickets, held the innings together. His knock came off 216 balls and included 12 boundaries. His ability to absorb pressure and keep the scoreboard moving earned accolades from all quarters—including England pacer Chris Woakes.
“It felt like we were close to getting him LBW, but he just had that little inside edge. Apart from that, he was in complete control,” Woakes admitted. “It’s a very good hundred, and a big one for his team.”
With the series finely poised, India’s Day 1 performance—anchored by Gill, supported by Jaiswal and Jadeja, and backed by tactical selection changes—has put them in a strong position as the match heads into Day 2.
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