Shubman Gill's Struggles and Triumph at Edgbaston
Indian captain Shubman Gill faced significant discomfort during the match, requiring the attention of the physio multiple times, which led to booing from the Edgbaston crowd. However, after securing his century, the Bharat Army, India's official fan group, erupted in celebration with drumbeats, countering the jeers.
India encountered a brief hiccup in their middle order. Among the top order, only Yashasvi Jaiswal managed a commendable score. At 99 for two, Jaiswal and Gill steadied the innings, but Jaiswal's exit created further challenges. Newcomer Nitish Reddy and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant couldn't last long, leaving Gill to await Ravindra Jadeja for support.
Gill showcased his leadership by remaining not out at 114, despite battling multiple pain issues. He experienced persistent back strain and even asked the umpires for treatment during a break.
Around the 76th over, the pain became unbearable, prompting the physio to apply pressure to Gill's lower back. Interestingly, he had faced a similar issue at Headingley, and the physio also began treating his left leg.
Gill's discomfort led to extended treatment, which incited frustration among the crowd, resulting in boos. Nevertheless, he quickly donned his pads and returned to the crease.
Despite the pain, Gill's performance remained unaffected. He maintained his pace throughout the innings, displaying steadiness and hitting boundaries as required, achieving a strike rate just above fifty.
Upon reaching his seventh International Test century, fans from the Bharat Army celebrated enthusiastically, drumming in joy. Check out the video here:
India concluded day one with a total of 310 runs. Key contributors included Shubman Gill (114*), Ravindra Jadeja (41*), and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who narrowly missed a century with a score of 85.
For England, Chris Wokes claimed two wickets, dismissing KL Rahul and Nitish Reddy, while Brydon Carse, Ben Stokes, and Shoaib Bashir each took one wicket.
