India made a resounding start to their Tour of England with a commanding show that saw them post 359/3 at the end of Day 1 of the opening Test match in Headingly, Leeds. Skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal led the charge with brilliant centuries that left the English bowlers hunting for answers on a flat Leeds track.
After England won the toss and opted to bowl first, India took full advantage of favourable batting conditions. Jaiswal was the first to make his mark, scoring a composed 101 off 158 balls, becoming the first Asian opener to score a Test ton at Headingley. Despite cramping up, the young left-hander showed remarkable patience and temperament against the new ball.
Gill, making his first start as the Indian captain, delivered under pressure with a fluent 127 not out, combining grace with grit. He became only the fifth Indian to score a century on Test captaincy debut. The Indian skipper to hit a ton in their first match leading the side are Vijay Hazare, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli. His partnership with his deputy Rishabh Pant, who finished unbeaten on 65 off just 82 balls, added quick runs in the final session and crushed any hopes of an English fightback.
England’s bowling, led by captain Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse, lacked bite and discipline. While Stokes picked up two wickets, including Jaiswal and debutant Sai Sudharsan, the rest of the attack struggled to contain India's aggressive approach.
As India closed the day, the signs were clear — a new era in Indian Test cricket is unfolding, and it began with a statement. With Gill, Pant, and Jaiswal firing, and a deep batting lineup still to come, England will need a special effort to claw back of this Headingley Test.
