Leeds, June 20: On a sweltering day at Headingley, India’s young guns rose to the occasion in style as Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal struck commanding centuries to take the visitors to a dominant 359 for 3 at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test against England.
Captain Gill, leading India in his debut Test as skipper, remained unbeaten on 127, showcasing poise and purpose throughout his innings. His masterclass at the crease not only anchored the Indian innings but also etched his name alongside legends like Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Virat Kohli as the only Indian players to score centuries in their first match as Test captain.
Jaiswal, continuing his love affair with the English attack, brought up his fifth Test hundred just before tea. The 23-year-old opener, who had tormented England in the home series 18 months ago, reached his ton in 144 balls, laced with 16 elegant fours and a six, mixing aggression with discipline.
The two centurions forged a crucial 129-run partnership for the third wicket, rescuing India after a slight morning wobble that saw KL Rahul fall for 42 and debutant B Sai Sudharsan depart without troubling the scorers — both wickets falling in the space of six balls just before lunch.Gill then found a steady partner in Rishabh Pant, who looked ominously settled on 65 not out at close. Their unbroken 138-run stand for the fourth wicket further compounded England’s problems and pushed India firmly into control.England’s bowlers, led by captain Ben Stokes (2/43), struggled to make inroads on a dry, unresponsive pitch that offered little support. Despite some swing in the air, the attack lacked consistency, allowing India to dictate terms for most of the day. Brydon Carse was the only other wicket-taker, returning figures of 1/70.
Stokes’ decision to bowl first under cloudless skies might come under scrutiny, especially given the conditions and India’s strong batting lineup. Even Gill admitted after the day’s play that he, too, would have opted to field, though the outcome may now prompt a rethink.
With Headingley known for dramatic turnarounds in the past, England will hope history repeats itself. However, with a potent Indian pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah lying in wait and the weather forecast likely to favour swing over the weekend. (PTI)
