India frustrated England’s bowlers with brilliant batting on Day 1 of the Headingley Test, scoring 359 runs for just 3 wickets.
“India scored 359 runs for 3 wickets, frustrating England’s bowlers with excellent batting on the first day of the Headingley Test.”
The first day marked a fantastic start to a new era of Indian Test cricket following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Yashasvi Jaiswal, maintaining his excellent form in whites against England, produced another magnificent century. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill celebrated his captaincy debut with a sublime century. India laid a strong foundation for a big total at Headingley.
“The day marked a superb start to India’s new era in Test cricket after the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his fine form with another century, while Shubman Gill marked his leadership debut with a century.”
In their last Test series in England at this very ground in 2021, India had been bowled out for just 78 runs on Day 1 and lost by an innings. This time, they made a strong comeback with 359 runs for 3 wickets, scoring at an impressive rate of 4.22 runs per over in the opening day of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
“In the previous Test series at this venue in 2021, India had been dismissed for 78 on Day 1 and lost by an innings.”
Last year, Jaiswal had scored 712 runs at an average of 89, including two double centuries, in 9 innings during a home series against England. Now, on English soil in his first Test here, the 23-year-old opener shone with a dazzling 101 off 159 balls. He became the first Indian to score centuries on debut Tests in both England and Australia.
“Jaiswal scored 101 runs off 159 balls in his first Test in England, becoming the first Indian to make a century on debut in both England and Australia.”
For Gill, it wasn’t just his captaincy debut, but also an added challenge to bat at number 4, taking over Virat Kohli’s position. The 25-year-old showed he was ready for the responsibility right from the first day.
“Gill, making his captaincy debut, took on the added challenge of batting at number four, formerly held by Kohli. The 25-year-old showed he was ready.”
Gill remained unbeaten on 127, scoring a century on his leadership debut — only the fourth Indian to do so. His 175-ball innings included 16 boundaries.
“Gill is unbeaten on 127, scoring a century on his Test captaincy debut, becoming the fourth Indian to do so.”
At the end of the day, India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant was unbeaten on 65 off 102 balls, playing some excellent shots.
“At day’s end, Rishabh Pant was unbeaten on 65 off 102 balls, playing some wonderful strokes.”
This is only the third time in Indian Test history that two Indian batsmen have scored centuries on the first day of an away Test — previously in 2001 (Tendulkar & Sehwag vs South Africa) and 2017 (Dhawan & Pujara vs Sri Lanka).
“This is only the third time in Indian Test history that two batsmen scored centuries on Day 1 of an away Test.”
In recent history at Headingley, the team batting second has won all six of the last Tests. England captain Ben Stokes chose to bowl after winning the toss, and interestingly, Gill said he would have done the same.
“Ben Stokes chose to bowl after winning the toss. Gill said he would have done the same.”
The pitch had a touch of grass, and there was swing and seam movement early on. But England’s pacers struggled to trouble India’s openers. Jaiswal and Lokesh Rahul played patiently and carefully.
“The pitch had some grass and offered swing and seam early on. However, England’s pacers couldn’t trouble Jaiswal and Rahul much.”
For the first time in seven Tests at Headingley, no wicket fell in the first 10 overs. India scored 44 runs in the first hour and reached 50 in the 16th over.
“No wicket fell in the first 10 overs for the first time in seven Tests here.”
Jaiswal and Rahul became the first visiting opening pair since South Africa’s Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen in 2012 to reach 50 runs together in the first innings at this venue.
“Jaiswal and Rahul were the first visiting openers since Smith and Petersen in 2012 to reach a 50-run opening stand here.”
India controlled the session for nearly two hours, but just before lunch, they lost two wickets in six balls.
“India controlled the session for an hour and 54 minutes, but lost two wickets in six balls before lunch.”
Rahul was dismissed for 42 off 78 balls, edging Brydon Carse’s delivery to Joe Root at slip, ending their 91-run opening partnership.
“Rahul fell for 42, caught by Root off Carse’s bowling, breaking the 91-run opening stand.”
Debutant Sai Sudharsan came in at number 3 but was dismissed for a duck by Ben Stokes, caught behind off a ball outside leg stump. He is the first Indian batsman to be dismissed for zero on Test debut at number 3.
“Sudharsan became the first Indian to be dismissed for a duck on Test debut batting at number 3.”
After lunch, Jaiswal and Gill resumed their fight. Gill played fluent strokes reminiscent of his one-day form, while Jaiswal reached his fifty off 96 balls. He then accelerated, reaching his next fifty in just 48 balls.
“Jaiswal reached fifty off 96 balls and then scored his next fifty in just 48 balls.”
Jaiswal suffered a minor elbow injury but continued playing, receiving treatment from the physio. After hitting a boundary off Carse, he reached his century milestone.
“Jaiswal suffered a minor elbow injury but carried on, reaching his century with a boundary off Carse.”
He became only the sixth Indian to score a century on his first Test in England, joining legends like Vijay Manjrekar, Abbas Ali Baig, Sandeep Patil, Sourav Ganguly, and Murali Vijay.
“Jaiswal became the sixth Indian to score a century on Test debut in England.”
This was Jaiswal’s fifth Test century overall, and third against England.
“This was Jaiswal’s fifth Test century and third against England.”
His innings of 101 included 16 fours and a six. Notably, all his boundaries were on the off-side. Unlike his previous four centuries, this one didn’t cross 150 runs.
“All his boundaries came on the off side. This century was shorter than his previous four, none of which was under 150.”
The Jaiswal-Gill partnership added 129 runs off 164 balls.
“The partnership between Jaiswal and Gill yielded 129 runs from 164 balls.”
Gill took 56 balls to reach his fifty and 140 balls for his century, marking his sixth Test hundred. He joined Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, and Virat Kohli as Indian captains to score a century on captaincy debut.
“Gill completed his sixth Test century, becoming one of the few Indian captains to score a hundred on leadership debut.”
Pant, known for his aggressive batting, started cautiously with only 31 runs off 67 balls. Then he unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes off spinner Shoaib Bashir.
“Pant started slowly but then unleashed aggressive shots, including a four and six off Shoaib Bashir.”
He reached 3,000 Test runs in just 76 innings, the second-fastest among wicketkeepers after Adam Gilchrist (63 innings).
“Pant reached 3,000 Test runs in 76 innings, second only to Adam Gilchrist among wicketkeepers.”
Pant finished the day by hitting Chris Woakes for a six over deep square leg and remained unbeaten on 65 off 102 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes.
“Pant ended the day unbeaten on 65, hitting a six off Woakes.”
Gill and Pant were unbeaten on a 138-run partnership. Karun Nair, returning to international cricket after 8 years, awaits at the crease.
“Gill and Pant remained unbeaten on 138 runs. Karun Nair, returning after 8 years, is next to bat.”
India are now poised for a massive total.
“India look set for a huge score.”
