New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): The stage was set at Headingley Stadium, with a roaring English crowd backing their hero Ben Stokes. On the other side stood a young Indian cricket team, led by Shubman Gill, stepping into the spotlight after the retirements of legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. What followed was a day of cricket that might just go down as one of India’s finest performances on foreign soil.
Facing skepticism from fans back home, the Indian team had something to prove. Social media was abuzz with doubts: ‘Gill hasn’t scored big outside Asia,’ ‘No Kohli, no hope,’ and ‘England will crush them.’ But by the end of Day 1, those voices were silenced—at least for now.
The opening act set the tone. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul walked in after England chose to bowl first, ready to take on the challenge of a grassy pitch and England’s feared bowling attack. What followed was a masterclass. Jaiswal’s elegant cuts and Rahul’s crisp cover drives left England scrambling. Their 91-run partnership, studded with 16 boundaries, was India’s highest opening stand in the first innings of a Test in England.
Just when England thought they had a breakthrough with Rahul’s dismissal, Jaiswal marched on. The young left-hander, already with centuries in Australia and the West Indies, added another to his growing legacy—a ton in his first Test innings in England. His 101 (159 balls, 16 fours, and a six) put him in elite company, joining legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly who’ve achieved the same feat.
Meanwhile, Gill had his own demons to conquer. Struggling outside Asia since his heroic 91 at Brisbane in 2021, the new captain finally broke free. A majestic 140-ball century, his first outside the subcontinent, announced his arrival as a leader. He mirrored Virat Kohli’s 2014 Adelaide heroics, crossing 2,000 Test runs while captaining for the first time. The numbers are catching up to his undeniable talent.
The carnage didn’t stop there. Rishabh Pant, returning from a tough IPL season, stunned everyone with a blazing 65*—overtaking MS Dhoni as Asia’s most successful wicketkeeper-batter in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions. His fearless batting, combined with Gill’s unbeaten 127*, propelled India to a mammoth 359/3 by stumps.
This wasn’t just any day. It was historic. India’s 359/3 marked their highest Day 1 score in England, surpassing the 338/7 at Edgbaston in 2022. The run rate of 4.22, with 46 boundaries and four sixes, was a bold ‘Bazball’ statement—against the very inventors of the aggressive approach.
As the sun set on Headingley, one thing was clear: this young Indian team isn’t here to fill shoes. They’re carving their own path. With two days left, the question isn’t whether England can bounce back—it’s whether India can keep this fire burning.