Shubman Gill scored a composed 50 (Courtesy: AP)

IND vs NZ: Shubman Gill hits 1st fifty in 3 Tests during whirlwind Day 2 morning

Shubman Gill made the most of a dropped catch from New Zealand to score his first fifty in 3 Tests on November 2, Saturday. Gill got to the landmark after he was dropped on 45.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Gill got to his 50 in 66 balls
  • Gill and Pant lead India's recovery on Day 2
  • Chapman dropped Gill when he was on 45

Shubman Gill was able to end his wait for a Test fifty during Day 2 of the Mumbai Test against New Zealand on November 2, Saturday. Gill got his first half-century in 3 Tests as he got to the landmark in 66 balls in what was a whirlwind morning session for India at the Wankhede stadium.

Gill had come into bat during the 7th over of the day when Rohit Sharma fell to Matt Henry. Despite a cautious start, Gill started to slowly get his confidence and stitched together a 50-run stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, he was then a spectator to the chaos at the end of Day 1 that saw India go from 78 for 1 to 84 for 4 in the space of 9 balls. Gill was going to be the main man for India on Day 2 as he and Pant looked to continue their rescue act.

India vs New Zealand, Mumbai Test Day 2: Live Updates

The day started with Pant hitting 3 boundaries off Ajaz Patel and Gill, who had started on 31, was keeping his composure from the get-go. He would get his first boundary soon off Ajaz but decided to keep himself in check. However, there was a moment where he lost his concentration and tried to break the shackles. Gill went down the track and tried to send Phillips into the stands, but he skied the ball high. Mark Chapman, who looked settle for the catch, would end up fumbling it.

This happed when Gill was batting on 45 and he would go on to get the next 5 runs with ease. This was Gill's 7th Test fifty and his first big score since the Chennai Test against Bangladesh. The star batter would go on to score a hundred that day to setup India's win.

India got off to a brilliant start in the morning, with Pant doing the majority of the heavylifting. Gill has been happily playing the anchor role for the moment and looks set for a big score.