New captain Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal struck centuries as India piled on 359-3 after losing the toss and punished an under-par England bowling display on day one of the first Test at Headingley.
Gill (127no off 175) played with terrific composure as he became the fifth India skipper to hit a century in his first Test in charge, a group that also includes Virat Kohli, the man he replaced at No 4 in the batting line-up following the legend’s recent retirement.
Jaiswal (101 off 158) notched his fifth Test hundred and third versus Ben Stokes’ side alone – which he clinched after suffering from forearm cramps – having smoked two double tons when India beat England 4-1 at home in early 2024.
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Watch the moment Shubman Gill marked his first Test as India captain with a century
The left-handed opener, who has now scored centuries on his Test debut as well as his first games in Australia and England, was bowled by a beauty from Stokes – the pick of the seamers – after tea but GIll and Rishabh Pant (65no off 102) combined for an unbroken partnership of 138 from 198 deliveries, aided by the rapid outfield.
Gill, whose ton was his sixth in total but first outside of Asia, proved the cornerstone as he made the perfect start to his leadership, having been named as successor to the now-retired Rohit Sharma.
Pant passed 3,000 Test runs and belted a rusty Chris Woakes for six in the final over, leaving England skipper Stokes with plenty to ponder – including whether he made the correct call at the toss.
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The best of Jaiswal’s century at Headingley – his third against England and the fifth of his Test career
Did England make error by electing to bowl?
The stats said Stokes was right to bowl with the Headingley pitch traditionally not deteriorating but the heat made for strong batting conditions and Jaiswal and KL Rahul (48), initially, latched onto width and overpitched deliveries as England chased wickets.
There was ample movement for the pace attack – which comprises the experienced Stokes and Woakes and the greener Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue – yet India’s openers blunted them until shortly before lunch with a stand of 91.
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Brydon Carse and captain Ben Stokes stuck in quick succession shortly before tea on day one in Leeds
The pair mixed aggressive intent with cautious batting – Rahul, in particular, playing a number of attractive drives as he made you wonder quite why his Test average is in the low 30s.
However, he was then caught on the drive, edging Carse to slip as the bowler bagged his first home Test wicket after 27 in five matches overseas this winter, before Stokes had debutant Sai Sudharsan caught down the leg-side for a jittery four-ball duck five deliveries later – the field settings suggesting that was a deliberate ploy.
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Stuart Broad was quick to spot a potential lbw dismissal before Carse overstepping resulted in a no-ball
Carse could have removed Jaiswal lbw for 45 after lunch but overstepped, and the batter went on to complete a 96-ball century in a Carse over in which he struck two coruscating off-side fours – the side of the wicket where he scored 88 per cent of his runs – and also paused for a second time due to his arm cramps.
Jaiswal and new India captain Gill put on 129 for the third wicket with the latter reaching fifty from 56 balls with a pulled four off Tongue, the same bowler who had been belted for six over point by Jaiswal.
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Stokes – the best of England’s seamers on the day – bowled Jaiswal with a peach of a delivery after tea
Stokes impresses on tough day for England
Unsurprisingly it was Stokes, playing his first game since the Zimbabwe Test in May and just second since he tore his hamstring bowling against New Zealand in December who snapped the Gill-Jaiswal stand, castling the latter from around the wicket.
Stokes then came close to removing Pant with a devilish slower ball and also beat the left-hander on his outside edge during a fascinating battle, with Pant throwing an early punch when he creamed the second ball he faced back over Stokes’ head for four.
Pant largely went into his shell after that – a wild swipe off England spinner Shoaib Bashir that Zak Crawley attempted in vain to catch and a towering six that took India past 300 were two of few outlandish moments – as he helped skipper Gill through to his century. Only then did the typical Pant audacity truly come out.
Shoaib Bashir had a decent day for England on day one at Headingley but the team toiled as a whole
Bashir was a bright spot for England on the day, offering control as well as dip, flight, turn and bounce, as he registered figures of 0-66 from 21 overs after seeing Jaiswal carve his first delivery for four.
The teams are playing for the newly created Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, named after greats of the game James Anderson and Sachin Tendulkar, who are the most prolific seam bowler and highest run-scorer in the history of Test cricket respectively.
England entered the series as favourites against an inexperienced touring side but day one in Leeds was a reminder, if we needed it, that India are packed with talent.
Watch day two of the first Test between England and India live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am on Friday (11am first ball) or stream with no contract.
England vs India Test series ☀️
All games at 11am UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports
First Test: Friday June 20-Tuesday June 24 – HeadingleySecond Test: Wednesday July 2-Sunday July 6 – EdgbastonThird Test: Thursday July 10-Monday July 14 – Lord’sFourth Test: Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 27 – Emirates Old TraffordFifth Test: Thursday July 31-Monday August 4 – The Kia Oval
