India Dominates Day 1 of First Test Against England: Jaiswal, Gill, and Pant Power Visitors to Strong Position
Leeds, England – A new era for Indian Test cricket began in emphatic fashion at Headingley today, June 20, 2025, as a re-energized Indian squad, under the leadership of new captain Shubman Gill, stamped their authority on Day 1 of the first Test against England. Powered by centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill himself, and a rapid half-century from Rishabh Pant, India finished the day in a commanding position at 359 for 3 wickets.
England Opts to Bowl, India Capitalizes
After England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch described as having a “green tinge” but playing truer than typical Headingley surfaces, India’s batsmen made the most of the conditions. Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal laid a solid foundation, stitching together a crucial 91-run partnership for the first wicket.
The only blips for India in the first session came just before lunch. KL Rahul (42 runs off 78 balls), who looked composed, was dismissed by Brydon Carse. Soon after, debutant B. Sai Sudharsan’s highly anticipated first Test innings ended prematurely as he fell for a duck to Ben Stokes. India went into lunch at 92 for 2, leaving a slight window of opportunity for England.
Century Stands and Personal Milestones
However, the afternoon and evening sessions belonged entirely to India. Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill orchestrated a resilient 129-run partnership for the third wicket, batting with a mix of aggression and composure.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was the first to reach a significant milestone, crafting a magnificent 101 runs off 159 balls, adorned with 16 fours and 1 six. This marked his second overseas Test hundred and his first on English soil, making him the first Indian batter to score centuries in his debut Tests in both Australia and England. Jaiswal’s gritty knock demonstrated his growing prowess in challenging conditions. His innings was eventually brought to an end by Ben Stokes shortly after tea.
Following Jaiswal’s departure, Shubman Gill took full control, showcasing why he was entrusted with the captaincy. Gill completed a masterful century in 140 balls, an elegant innings featuring 16 fours and 1 six. This century on his captaincy debut places him in an elite club as only the fifth Indian to achieve this feat, joining legends like Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, and Virat Kohli. Gill’s composure and fluent stroke play were a highlight of the day.
Adding to England’s woes, Gill found an aggressive partner in vice-captain Rishabh Pant. The dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman accelerated after Jaiswal’s dismissal, bringing up a brisk 65 not out off 102 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes. During his innings, Pant also crossed the 3,000-run mark in Test cricket, becoming only the second Indian wicketkeeper-batsman after MS Dhoni to reach this milestone. The unbroken 138-run stand between Gill and Pant further solidified India’s dominant position.
England’s Struggles
England’s bowlers toiled hard throughout the day but found wickets difficult to come by. Ben Stokes was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets for 43 runs, including the crucial scalp of Jaiswal. Brydon Carse claimed the other wicket of KL Rahul. The rest of the English attack, including Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir, struggled to make significant inroads on a day that heavily favored the batsmen.
At stumps, Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 127, with Rishabh Pant on 65, setting India up for a massive first-innings total on Day 2. England will need a disciplined bowling effort and early breakthroughs to shift the momentum in their favor.
Day 1 Scorecard:
India 1st Innings: 359/3 (85 Overs)
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 101 | 159 | 16 | 1 | 63.52 |
| KL Rahul | 42 | 78 | 8 | 0 | 53.85 |
| Sai Sudharsan | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Shubman Gill (c) | 127* | 175 | 16 | 1 | 72.57 |
| Rishabh Pant (vc & wk) | 65* | 102 | 6 | 2 | 63.73 |
| Extras: | 24 | ||||
| Total: | 359/3 | 85 Overs | 4.22 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-91 (Rahul), 2-92 (Sudharsan), 3-221 (Jaiswal)
England Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| :————– | :—- | :—— | :— | :—— | :——– |
| Chris Woakes | 19 | 2 | 89 | 0 | 4.68 |
| Brydon Carse | 16 | 5 | 70 | 1 | 4.38 |
| Josh Tongue | 16 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 4.69 |
| Ben Stokes (c) | 13 | 1 | 43 | 2 | 3.31 |
| Shoaib Bashir | 21 | 4 | 66 | 0 | 3.14 |