IND vs ENG: Shubman Gill Was Given Ultimatum Before Vizag Test- Report

IND vs ENG: After a string of low scores including a two-ball duck in the second innings of the Hyderabad Test, Shubman Gill was reportedly given an ultimatum before the Vizag Test.

India's batter Shubman Gill walks back to pavilion after his dismissal during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between India and England, at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.

Source : PTI

India are at an advantageous position in the second Test match of the five-match series against England at the Dr YS Rajashekar Reddy ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. While the Men in Blue had faced a 28-run defeat in the series opener in Hyderabad where they had failed to chase down 231 in the fourth innings, this time around they have set England a target of 399 to win.

While Yashasvi Jaiswal's double hundred in the first innings stole the limelight, Jasprit Bumrah then produced a six-wicket haul to ensure India take a first-innings lead yet again. Then in the second innings with the bat, Shubman Gill's century meant India were able to post 253 in the second innings and set a stern target for the visitors. Moments after Gill's third Test century (104), it is being reported that the right-handed batter had been given an ultimatum and had he not scored runs in this fixture, he would have been sent back to playing domestic cricket.

Gill had received the ultimatum from the Indian Team management after his two-ball duck in second innings of the Hyderabad Test. The same has been claimed in a report carried by Indian Express. "I will go and play the Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat in Mohali," he apparently told one of his family members as mentioned in the same report. 

IND vs ENG 2nd Test: England Need 332 More Runs To Win

England have ended Day 3 on 67/1. They need 332 more runs to go 2-0 up in the series. The Three Lions got to yet another half-century opening stand. However, Ravichandran Ashwin managed to produce the wicket of Ben Duckett off his first over towards the end of the day's play. Duckeet departed for 28 off 27 balls. However, given the way BazBall style of playing, Ben Stokes & Co. cannot be ruled out of winning this Test with Gill himself giving 30 per cent chance of the match slipping out of their hands in an interview with the broadcasters after the day's play.