"Gill's Century Powers India to 350/3 in 1st Test vs England at Headingley."

"Gill's Century Powers India to 350/3 in 1st Test vs England at Headingley"

IND vs ENG 1st Test Match Highlights: Shubman Gill’s Commanding Century Leads India to 350/3 at Headingley.

Match Overview

In a thrilling display of batting prowess, India dominated the opening day of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, on June 21, 2025, finishing at a formidable 350 for 3 in just under 82 overs.

Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with an unbeaten 126, while Yashasvi Jaiswal’s sparkling 101 earlier in the day set the tone for India’s commanding performance. Rishabh Pant, with an unbeaten 57, provided solid support, ensuring India ended the day in a dominant position. England’s bowlers, despite early promise, struggled to make inroads on a relatively flat pitch, with Captain Ben Stokes being the standout performer with 2 wickets.

Toss and Team News

England won the toss and elected to bowl first, with Stokes expressing confidence in exploiting early conditions on a pitch that appeared batsman-friendly. Both teams fielded unchanged XIs from their announced line-ups earlier in the week. India opted for a balanced attack, with Shubman Gill leading a strong batting unit and a versatile bowling line-up, while England relied on their pace-heavy attack led by Stokes, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and spinner Shoaib Bashir.

India XI

Yashasvi Jaiswal

Rohit Sharma

KL Rahul

Shubman Gill (c)

Virat Kohli

Rishabh Pant (wk)

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravichandran Ashwin

Jasprit Bumrah

Mohammed Siraj

Akash Deep
England XI

Zak Crawley

Ben Duckett

Ollie Pope

Joe Root

Harry Brook

Ben Stokes (c)

Jonny Bairstow (wk)

Chris Woakes

Brydon Carse

Josh Tongue

Shoaib Bashir
India’s Batting Dominance
Morning Session: Jaiswal’s Sparkling Century

India began cautiously after being sent in to bat, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma negotiating the new ball on a pitch offering slight assistance to England’s pacers. Brydon Carse struck early, dismissing Sharma for 18, caught behind off a rising delivery. KL Rahul joined Jaiswal, and the duo added a steady 74 runs for the second wicket. Rahul looked composed but fell for 29 to Stokes, who induced an edge to the slips.

Jaiswal, however, was the star of the morning session. The young opener played with flair and precision, reaching his century in style with a lofted cover drive off Chris Woakes. His 101 off 159 balls included 16 fours and a towering six, showcasing his ability to dominate on foreign soil. Jaiswal’s knock made him the first Indian batter to score centuries in his debut Tests in both Australia and England, a remarkable feat. His innings ended shortly after lunch when Stokes bowled a peach that straightened to clean him up, leaving India at 141/2.

Afternoon Session: Gill Takes Charge

Shubman Gill, walking in at 92/2, took control with a blend of elegance and authority. The Indian captain played with supreme confidence, driving and cutting with precision. He stitched a crucial 89-run partnership with Virat Kohli, who scored a fluent 41 before falling to Stokes, trapped lbw to a delivery that nipped back sharply. At tea, India were comfortably placed at 220/3, with Gill unbeaten on 78 and Rishabh Pant settling in.

Gill’s strokeplay was the highlight of the session, as he punished anything short or overpitched. His cover drives and lofted shots were a treat to watch, and he reached his century with a crisp boundary off Josh Tongue. By tea, Gill had firmly established India’s dominance, setting the stage for a big total.

Evening Session: Gill and Pant Unbroken

The final session saw India tighten their grip on the game. Gill continued his masterful innings, remaining unbeaten on 126 off 163 balls, with 16 fours and a six. His calm leadership and ability to rotate the strike kept the scoreboard ticking. Rishabh Pant, at the other end, played a more restrained knock than his usual aggressive style, surviving early jitters to reach an unbeaten 57 off 96 balls. His innings included six fours and a six, with a lofted cover drive off Shoaib Bashir being the shot of the session.

The unbroken 129-run partnership between Gill and Pant frustrated England, who struggled to find rhythm on a pitch that flattened out as the day progressed. England’s bowlers, particularly Woakes, Tongue, and Bashir, toiled without reward, while Carse and Stokes occasionally threatened but couldn’t break the partnership.

England’s Bowling Struggles

England’s decision to bowl first backfired as their pacers failed to capitalize on early conditions. Ben Stokes was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 2 for 43 in his 18 overs, troubling the batsmen with his swing and seam movement. Brydon Carse picked up the early wicket of Rohit Sharma but was expensive, conceding 68 runs in his 16 overs. Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir bowled long spells but went wicketless, with figures of 0/72, 0/65, and 0/58 respectively. The lack of turn for Bashir and the inability of the pacers to sustain pressure allowed India to dominate.

Key Moments

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Historic Century: Jaiswal’s 101 off 159 balls marked him as the first Indian to score centuries in debut Tests in Australia and England, a testament to his prodigious talent.

Shubman Gill’s Captain’s Knock: Gill’s unbeaten 126 was a masterclass in controlled aggression, anchoring India’s innings and setting the tone for a massive total.

Stokes’ Breakthroughs: England’s captain led by example, dismissing Jaiswal and Kohli with skillful bowling, but lacked support from the rest of the attack.

Pant’s Composed Fifty: Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 57 showed a mature side to his batting, complementing Gill perfectly in an unbroken stand.

Day 1 Summary

India’s commanding performance on Day 1 has put them in the driver’s seat. With Gill and Pant at the crease and a strong batting line-up to follow, India are well-positioned to post a massive first-innings total, potentially exceeding 500. England, on the other hand, will need early wickets on Day 2 to avoid being buried under a mountain of runs. The pitch, while offering some assistance early, has flattened out, and England’s bowlers will need to find a way to disrupt India’s momentum.

Scorecard at Stumps, Day 1

India 1st Innings: 350/3 (81.4 overs)

Yashasvi Jaiswal: 101 (159 balls, 16x4, 1x6)

Shubman Gill: 126* (163 balls, 16x4, 1x6)

Rishabh Pant: 57* (96 balls, 6x4, 1x6)

Virat Kohli: 41 (68 balls, 5x4)

KL Rahul: 29 (52 balls, 4x4)

Rohit Sharma: 18 (34 balls, 3x4)

England Bowling:

Ben Stokes: 18-3-43-2

Brydon Carse: 16-1-68-1

Chris Woakes: 19-2-72-0

Josh Tongue: 17-1-65-0

Shoaib Bashir: 11.4-0-58-0
Looking Ahead

As Day 2 dawns, India will aim to bat England out of the game, with Gill and Pant looking to convert their starts into big scores. Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and the lower order are capable of adding quick runs, potentially pushing India past 500. England, meanwhile, will need their bowlers to regroup and strike early, with Stokes and Carse likely to lead the charge. The weather at Headingley is expected to remain clear, promising another full day of cricket.

This Test match is shaping up to be a battle of attrition, with India holding the upper hand after a near-perfect opening day. Can England fight back, or will Gill’s men continue their relentless march? Day 2 promises more drama at Headingley.