India vs England Test – Day 1 at Headingley: A New Era Dawns

June 21, 2025
|In Sports
|By Ajay Yadav

The first day of the Test series between India and England began with fireworks as India’s next-generation batting stars took charge in style. On a sun-drenched day at Headingley, the visitors dominated from the start, reaching 359/3 by stumps, thanks to splendid centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, with a late flourish from Rishabh Pant. England, despite winning the toss and bowling first, were left chasing shadows.

Match Overview

  • Toss: England won and chose to field

  • India’s Score at Stumps: 359/3 (85 overs)

  • Top Performers:

    • Yashasvi Jaiswal – 101 (159 balls)

    • Shubman Gill – 127* (175 balls)

    • Rishabh Pant – 65* (102 balls)

  • Wickets Lost: KL Rahul (42), Sai Sudharsan (0), Yashasvi Jaiswal (101)

Yashasvi Jaiswal – The Grit-Filled Ton

In his first Test innings on English soil, Yashasvi Jaiswal proved once again that he is no longer just a promising young talent but a formidable Test opener. Battling high temperatures and physical discomfort, Jaiswal played with calm and composure, building a solid platform for India’s dominance.

He was watchful early on, respecting the swinging conditions, but once settled, began punishing England’s pacers with a series of exquisite drives and pull shots. His century came off 159 balls, with 16 boundaries and a six. This was his fifth Test hundred and first in England — marking a critical step in his maturing journey.

Shubman Gill – Captain Courageous

Appointed India’s new Test captain following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Gill entered this match under pressure. But what followed was a captain’s knock in the truest sense. From the moment he walked to the crease, Gill looked assured, composed, and hungry.

Gill reached his century off just 151 balls and remained unbeaten at stumps on 127. His innings was a perfect blend of patience and positive intent. He rotated strike smartly, punished loose balls, and led from the front with his bat. This marked his fifth Test century and his first as captain — putting him in an elite club of Indian captains to achieve this on debut.

Date: June 20, 2025
Venue: Headingley, Leeds

Rishabh Pant – Late-Day Carnage

Rishabh Pant’s innings might have been short compared to the top order, but his impact was massive. Coming in after Jaiswal’s dismissal, Pant took full advantage of the tiring bowlers and fielders. His 65* off 102 balls included six fours and two towering sixes.

His aggressive batting ensured that India did not lose momentum and made England pay heavily for any width or over-pitched deliveries. By the time the day ended, Pant had put India firmly in control.

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England’s Bowling Struggles

Opting to bowl first, England’s captain Ben Stokes hoped for early swing under clear skies. However, the pitch didn’t offer as much assistance as expected, and India’s openers tackled the initial challenge with ease.

Ben Stokes was the only bowler who made breakthroughs, dismissing both Jaiswal and Sudharsan. Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, and Brydon Carse failed to find any rhythm or movement after the first hour. Shoaib Bashir, the young spinner, was brought in late in the day but couldn’t trouble the Indian batters.

Key figures:

  • Stokes: 13–1–43–2

  • Carse: 16–5–70–1

  • Woakes: 19–2–89–0

  • Tongue: 16–0–75–0

  • Bashir: 21–4–66–0

England’s bowlers lacked variety, and their fielding too was sub-par, with dropped chances and misfields adding to their woes.

Session Breakdown

First Session

India started cautiously with KL Rahul and Jaiswal negotiating the new ball well. Rahul looked fluent before edging one to the slips on 42. Sai Sudharsan fell for a duck shortly after, but the stage was already set.

Second Session

Jaiswal and Gill batted masterfully in the second session. Jaiswal reached his century with a firm drive through cover, while Gill grew in confidence, playing some glorious strokes.

Third Session

After Jaiswal fell for 101, Pant joined Gill. The pair upped the scoring rate, punishing tired bowlers and scoring freely on both sides of the wicket. England failed to find any rhythm, and the partnership grew untroubled till stumps.

Player Milestones and Highlights

  • Yashasvi Jaiswal: Became the youngest Indian to score a Test century in England since Sachin Tendulkar.

  • Shubman Gill: Joined Virat Kohli and Sunil Gavaskar as Indian captains to score centuries on debut as Test captain.

  • Rishabh Pant: Scored his 11th Test half-century, continuing his excellent form overseas.

Tactical Insights

India

  • Shubman Gill’s decision to promote Sudharsan to number three backfired, but the rest of the batting order clicked brilliantly.

  • India’s approach to attack in the final session ensured scoreboard pressure on Day 2.

  • The selection of four frontline bowlers with Pant as wicketkeeper shows confidence in the batting depth.

England

  • Choosing to bowl on a flat wicket backfired.

  • Lack of pace variety made things easier for India’s batters.

  • Missed opportunities in the field cost them at least 80–100 runs.

Day 2: What to Expect

India will resume with Gill and Pant at the crease. If they continue the way they finished Day 1, India could easily post a score in excess of 500. That would leave England under serious pressure in their first innings, especially with a fresh Indian bowling attack eager to make their mark.

England, meanwhile, will look for early wickets on Day 2 to contain the damage. They may also consider using part-time bowlers to mix things up, as India’s batters seemed at ease against the main attack.

Quotes of the Day

Shubman Gill (India Captain):
“I wanted to set the tone as a leader, and scoring a hundred in these conditions means a lot. But the job isn’t finished—we want to post 500+ and bowl with intent.”

Ben Stokes (England Captain):
“We didn’t execute our plans well. We’ll learn and come back stronger tomorrow. There’s still a lot of cricket to play.”

Conclusion

India dominated Day 1 of the first Test at Headingley with a powerful display of batting led by Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant. England were left frustrated and searching for answers. With three more days to go, the momentum is firmly in India’s favor.

The way India’s young generation has taken charge of the post-Kohli, post-Rohit era has been remarkable. Gill’s calm leadership and confident strokeplay, Jaiswal’s resolve, and Pant’s firepower are early indicators that India’s transition into a new era is off to a strong and promising start.

Stay tuned for Day 2 coverage and full scorecard updates as India looks to convert their dominant start into a series lead.