Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar showered praise on Shubman Gill after the right-hander scored a fine knock of 104 runs on the third day of the second Test match against England at Vizag. Manjrekar feels once Gill got to his 50 he was thinking of making a big score.

Gill was under the cosh when he came out to bat after Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply but grew in confidence as he got settled at the crease. The right-hander was averaging below 20 before in the last 13 innings before this knock but delivered for the team.

Gill scored 11 fours and two sixes in his fine knock as he batted at the top of his game. The youngster’s knock powered India to 255 and helped them take a lead of 398 runs.

“What’s impressive about Gill was the fact that once he got to his 50 he was thinking big. When you are out of form and actually looking at your place being in doubt for the next Test with Virat Kohli and KL Rahul likely to comeback that fear is always there. And once you get a 50, there is a feeling ‘ I may play the next match, I’ve saved my career’ for the moment. And you might just relax a bit,” Manjrekar said while talking to ESPN Cricinfo.

Manjrekar added India needed somebody to get a big score and Gill delivered the goods for the team.

“He went on and scored a very controlled 100 and that is why we have all been excited with Gill that once he got a 50 he made that count. India needed somebody to get a big score and he did. England bowling was not going to be a challenge for Gill. Starting off has been a problem for him whether it was in South Africa or against the English spinners. And he needed a little bit of luck with that leg before,” said Manjrekar.

At lunch on the fourth day’s play, India has put themselves in the driving seat. The hosts need four more wickets to win the second Test and square the series after taking five wickets in the morning session.