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India's new Test captain Shubman Gill announced his arrival in England with a 147-run knock. Started out as opener, he took the no.4 position left vacant by legendary Virat Kohliwho retired from the format last month. As Gill scored his first Test century on England soil, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak revealed that the young batter made a few changes after a lacklustre tour of Australia where he scored 93 runs from five innings. Kotak recalled seeing Gill in the nets and speaking to him about the changes he made to his technique.
"I think, after the Australia series, he [Shubman Gill] has thought of certain things, which he has implemented, after Australia, Champions Trophy, and then we had IPL. He worked on certain things, and as soon as I saw him in the nets, I spoke to him about the changes you made, and he said yes. So a lot of credit goes to him for analysing what he needs to do, and I think he did really well," Kotak said in the press conference after Day 2's play.
Gill walked in to bat in the 26th over. He shared a 129-run partnership for the third wicket with Yashavi Jaiswal. Then, he shared a 209-run partnership for the fourth wicket with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant. Gill scored 147 runs from 227 balls, including 19 fours and a six. He got out trying to hit a six off Shoaib Bashir.
Kotak lauds Pant, India suffer collapse
After Gill's wicket, India suffered a batting collapse. Karun Nair's return was short-lived as he departed four a four-ball duck to Ben Stokes. Then, Pant got out lbw to Josh Tongue as he offered no shot to an inswinging delivery. But Pant helped India post a good total on the board. Kotak lauded for not just his attacking nature but his defensive style.
"Rishabh Pant, I think, is someone who makes his own plans, makes his decision when he bats, so this inning was a little different than you would see him normally, but that is his plan, the way he wanted to approach it, and when he wanted to attack, he did. So, because he plays aggressively, it does not mean that he can't play defensively," he added.
Tongue and Stokes rushed wrapped up India's first innings. From 430 for 3, the visitors were bowled out for 471. Then, Ollie Pope's unbeaten century and Ben Duckett's half-century helped England post 209/3 before the end of Day 2's play.
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