Shubman Gill has got the fresh cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) off to a flying start. The England tour was a big series for Gill. He wasn't in the best form heading into the series, and the leadership responsibilities only added to the pressure. But what a response he has delivered. Gill scored a magnificent century in the first Test, and backed it up with a scintillating 269 at Edgbaston to put India on top in the second Test.

Gill has silenced his critics in some style, and it seems that the captaincy is getting the best out of him. India would hope that Gill continues the magical form in the series as it will significantly improve India's chances of winning the series.

Meanwhile, Gill has quickly moved to the top of the table in the list of most runs in the current cycle of the WTC. With 424 runs, he leapfrogged Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka, who has 369 runs to his name. Gill also became the first player in the world to hit 50 fours in the WTC 2025-2027 cycle. Gill's average of 141.33 in the current cycle is the highest among all players.

Meanwhile, the 269 by Shubman Gill was the highest score by an Indian outside Asia. The previous best was Sachin Tendulkar's 241, which he made at the iconic SCG in 2004. This was also the third highest score by an Indian in away Tests, behind Virender Sehwag's 309 in Multan, and Rahul Dravid's 270 in Rawalpindi. Gill also became the third Indian after Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid to score a double hundred in England. More so, the 25-year-old joined Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, and Chris Gayle, in the list of players with double hundreds in ODIs and Tests.

India On Top

Gill's masterful knock clubbed with Yashasvi Jaiswal's 87 and Ravindra Jadeja's 89 helped India post a solid score of 587 in the first innings. India later reduced England to 77-3 at stumps on Day 2 to take a big lead in the match.