Indian batsman Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, each scored centuries on the second day of the ultimate Test match at HPCA Ground in Dharamshala on March 8, 2024
| Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill struck elegant hundreds as India pressed the benefit within the fifth Test in opposition to England by reaching 264 for one at lunch on day two, right here on Friday.
Rohit (102 batting off 160 balls) and Gill (101 batting off 142 balls) walked out within the center in shiny sunshine and milked the circumstances to take India nicely previous England’s first innings complete of 218 after resuming the innings at 135 for one.
At the break, they led the guests by 46 runs and had been on course for an enormous first innings complete.
England tried every part to include them, whether or not it was using the leg-slip for Rohit when Shoaib Bashir was in operation or Mark Wood utilizing the odd quick ball in opposition to the opening duo with as many as six fielders on the leg facet.
However, nothing labored for the guests regardless of the Barmy Army making much more noise than the Indian followers on the gorgeous HPCA stadium. Rohit and Gill collected 129 runs from 30 overs within the two hours of play.
Rohit and Gill, who had been batting on 52 and 26 in a single day, gave themselves an over every after begin of play earlier than going for his or her strokes.
Off-spinner Bashir opened the bowling alongside veteran pacer James Anderson and was put beneath immense strain by Rohit, who deposited him for a straight six and a 4 in his second over to set the tone.
Gill, who performed some audacious strokes on the opening day, carried on in the identical vein as he took two steps ahead in opposition to the good Anderson for a straight six, which was adopted by a sq. reduce.
The solely actual likelihood that England had within the session went begging when Zak Crawley couldn’t latch on to a pointy catch provided by Rohit at leg-slip.
Mark Wood changed Anderson and Gill put him beneath the pump with a sq. reduce and an exquisite cowl drive. Sixty runs in 15 overs within the first hour of play summed up India’s intent.
Wood resorted to the quick ball tactic in opposition to the well-set duo however that didn’t work both. Stokes first put 5 fielders on the leg facet earlier than including one other one.
The mid-off was left vacant, prompting Rohit to make room and slap Wood within the area for a boundary.
Bashir returned for his second spell however Gill ensured he didn’t cool down by smashing for a most over the bowler’s head. The off-spinner then determined to go around the wicket however to no avail.
Rohit accomplished his twelfth Test hundred and second of the sequence by flicking Tom Hartley for a single.
Two ball later, Gill adopted him into three digits by slog-sweeping Bashir for a 4. After finishing his second ton of the sequence, Gill took his helmet off and bowed to the spectators within the stands together with his proud father.
