India vs England 1st Test Highlights | Gill, Jaiswal Hundreds Lead Day 1

India vs England 1st Test: Gill and Jaiswal Power India to Dominance on Day 1 at Headingley

Summary​

India dominated Day 1 of the 1st Test against England at Headingley, piling up 359/3 at stumps. Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a classy unbeaten 127, while Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone earlier with a fluent 101. Rishabh Pant added firepower late in the day, ending on 65 not out. England’s bowlers struggled for breakthroughs on a flat deck despite early momentum. India will resume Day 2 with momentum firmly in their favor.

Scorecard Summary

India 1st Innings: 359/3 in 85 overs
Top scorers: Shubman Gill 127* (175), Yashasvi Jaiswal 101 (159), Rishabh Pant 65* (102)
Wickets: KL Rahul 42 (Carse), Sai Sudharsan 0 (Stokes), Jaiswal 101 (Stokes)
England bowlers: Ben Stokes 2/43, Brydon Carse 1/70
Venue: Headingley, Leeds | Toss: England opted to bowl

Gill and Jaiswal Hundreds Give India the Upper Hand at Headingley

The India vs England 1st Test at Headingley began with fireworks as India, led by skipper Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, stamped authority with centuries on Day 1. By stumps, India had raced to a commanding 359/3 in 85 overs, asserting early dominance in the opening encounter of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy 2025 series.

England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bowl first under overcast conditions, hoping to extract early movement from a green-tinged pitch. However, the move backfired as India’s batters turned the tide quickly, particularly after overcoming a short-lived wobble before lunch.

Opening Onslaught and Early Setbacks

India opened with the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal and the experienced KL Rahul. The pair laid a solid foundation with a 91-run partnership, showing both restraint and aggression against the new ball attack of Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue. Rahul fell just shy of a half-century, caught by Joe Root off Brydon Carse for 42. Debutant Sai Sudharsan's Test career began on a sour note, dismissed for a four-ball duck by Stokes, leaving India momentarily unsettled at 92/2.

But from that point forward, the narrative belonged to India’s captain and vice-captain. Shubman Gill, walking in at a precarious time, played with confidence and control. Alongside Jaiswal, he steadied the ship and gradually increased the scoring rate.

India vs England 1st Test: Gill and Jaiswal Dominate Afternoon

Jaiswal, who has developed into a key figure in India's top order, continued his attacking brand of cricket. Using the pace of the English bowlers to his advantage, he reached his century off just 115 balls—a blend of precision, power, and placement. His innings, decorated with 16 boundaries and a six, was brought to an end by Stokes in the post-tea session, bowled after a lapse in concentration on 101.

Shubman Gill took over seamlessly, guiding the innings with elegance. The India vs England 1st Test saw Gill produce one of his most complete red-ball innings to date. He reached his hundred in 157 balls and continued to press forward. His driving, placement, and footwork against both pace and spin were top-notch. Unbeaten on 127 at the close of play, he remains the centrepiece of India’s hopes heading into Day 2.

Pant Joins the Party Late

Rishabh Pant, back in the Test side and elevated to vice-captain, joined Gill and countered England’s efforts in the final session. His unbeaten 65 came off 102 balls and included six crisp boundaries. Pant played with his trademark aggression but also showed maturity, allowing Gill to anchor while he rotated strike and picked off bad deliveries.

Together, the Gill-Pant stand reached 138* by stumps, ensuring India ended Day 1 in control, with just three wickets down and England looking for answers.

England Bowlers Toil in Vain

Ben Stokes was the pick of the bowlers for England, grabbing two crucial wickets—Sudharsan and Jaiswal. Brydon Carse struck early with the dismissal of KL Rahul, but otherwise, the English attack found little rhythm. Chris Woakes bowled economically but without penetration, and Shoaib Bashir failed to provide the spin threat England hoped for.

Fielding wasn’t sharp either, with half-chances not taken and pressure rarely built in clusters. The India vs England 1st Test saw England squander their advantage after a decent start in the first session.

Headingley Track Offers True Bounce, Little Spin

The surface at Headingley behaved well throughout Day 1. There was some movement in the morning, but as the day progressed, the pitch settled into a batters' paradise. Seamers got occasional bounce, but without disciplined line and length, they were easy pickings.

England will be hoping the pitch starts to wear down from Day 3 onward, but for now, it appears the track offers minimal assistance to bowlers. That puts the onus on their batting unit to respond strongly when their time comes.

India’s Strategic Picks Pay Off

India’s gamble to debut Sai Sudharsan didn’t quite work, but other selection calls hit the mark. Promoting Gill to No. 4 while handing vice-captaincy to Pant gave the lineup flexibility and accountability. Jadeja and Thakur will look to provide valuable lower-order runs and bowling support once they get their turn.

The rest of the lineup—Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna—will be eager to exploit any variable bounce or morning moisture on Day 2, provided India can extend their first innings close to or beyond 500.

Conclusion: India in Command After Day 1 of 1st Test

The India vs England 1st Test Day 1 undoubtedly belonged to the visitors. Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 127 and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s explosive 101 put India on top, with England needing early breakthroughs on Day 2 to claw back.

If India bat deep into the second day and get a first innings total beyond 500, it could put pressure on an England side still finding their rhythm in this format. For now, Gill and Pant hold the key, and India will feel they have one hand firmly on the advantage.