Shubman Gill silenced his critics in style during the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After being dismissed for a duck in the first innings, Gill roared back with a magnificent century in the second innings, steering India into a dominant position by Day 3. The young batter, determined to make amends for his earlier failure, showcased his immense talent and composure as he helped India build a commanding lead.
Coming in at No.3 after the early dismissal of captain Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill held his nerve and took control of the innings despite wickets tumbling around him. His early efforts on Day 2 were steady, but it was on the morning of Day 3 that Gill truly came alive.
Displaying a mixture of solid defence and elegant strokes, including some beautiful cover drives and well-timed lofted shots, Shubman Gill was a joy to watch. He looked particularly dominant against the spinners, putting them under immense pressure with his aggressive stroke play. One of the defining partnerships of the match came when Gill joined forces with Rishabh Pant, who contributed a quickfire 109.
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Together, the duo added 167 runs for the fourth wicket, effectively demoralizing the Bangladesh bowling attack. Shubman Gill first reached a well-deserved half-century and then, with calculated aggression, powered his way to a sublime century. His innings was a masterclass in pacing a knock, balancing aggression with caution.
A moment to savour for @ShubmanGill as he notches up his 5th Test CENTURY 👏👏
Live – https://t.co/fvVPdgXtmj… #INDvBAN @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/W4d1GmuukB
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 21, 2024
Reaching his century in 161 balls, Shubman Gill earned a standing ovation from the Indian dressing room, including skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. It was his fifth century in Test cricket, a testament to his growing maturity as a batter. He finished the innings unbeaten on 119 from 176 deliveries, striking 10 boundaries and 4 sixes. His stellar effort propelled India to a total of 287, giving them a mammoth lead of over 500 runs.
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Gill’s recent form in Test cricket has been remarkable, and his ability to adapt to the No.3 position, which he requested after the ICC World Test Championship final, is a positive sign for India’s future. His recent scores—104, 91, 52*, 110, and now 119*—show that he is settling into a key role in India’s Test setup. With 12 international hundreds to his name, Shubman Gill is fast becoming the backbone of India’s batting lineup.