India began their Test series in England on a high note at Headingley, Leeds, closing Day 1 at a commanding 359/3. Captain Shubman Gill led the way with an assured, unbeaten 127*, while Yashasvi Jaiswal sparkled with a fluent 101, and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant added a flamboyant 65* to leave India in a dominant position. England’s bowlers, led by Ben Stokes, struggled to find early breakthroughs despite helpful conditions, as India’s new-look batting lineup displayed both flair and resilience.
Yashasvi Jaiswal fiery start
On a day charged with emotion, symbolism, and a sense of renewal, Jaiswal stepped confidently out of the shadows of Indian cricket’s past and into its future. With India entering a new era without stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the 23-year-old opener let his bat do most of the talking before celebrating his first Test hundred on English soil with an uncharacteristic leap into the air and a heartfelt embrace with his captain.
Jaiswal’s journey from sleeping under tents at Azad Maidan to crafting a masterful century at Headingley is one of breaking barriers. His 101 off 159 balls, laced with 16 boundaries and a six, was about much more than numbers, it was an innings of composure under pressure, poise against seam and swing, and proof that India’s next generation is not waiting in the wings, it’s already thriving.
Shubman Gill shines as captain
And Jaiswal was not alone in the spotlight. Captain Gill, stepping into Kohli’s No. 4 shoes and carrying the responsibility of leadership, compiled a polished 127* off 175 balls. By joining legends like Hazare, Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, and Kohli as Indians to score centuries on their captaincy debut, Gill showed maturity and assurance well beyond his years. Unfazed by the role, he paced his innings superbly, racing toward his eighth Test ton at a strike rate comfortably above 72 and steering India to a commanding total at stumps.
Pant, too, played his part with typical flair, finishing the day unbeaten on 65. Mixing innovation with brute force, reverse-sweeping and stepping out with confidence, Pant kept England on the defensive. His 122-run stand with Gill cemented India’s control and underlined the team’s authority.
Jaiswal’s innings had its own moments of brilliance, a graceful glide past slip in the first over, a crisp drive past mid-off in the next, and a searing cut off Brydon Carse that made his intent clear. Even after absorbing a painful blow to the ribs and surviving some nervy deliveries outside his off-stump, he never looked unsettled. From 87 to 100 took him just six balls, three of them boundaries, a brief but emphatic reminder that this new chapter in Indian cricket has begun with style, substance, and an eye on the future.