Cricket
Centuries by Jaiswal and Gill put India on front foot against England─── ILSE SMALBERGER 11:48 Sat, 21 Jun 2025
It was a dream start for India’s new captain, Shubman Gill, as he marked his debut with a century against England on the opening day of the first test at Headingly in Leeds.
Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a century of his own after England won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Jaiswal hit 17 boundaries, including a six, and took only 48 balls to move from 50 to 100. Gill, on the other hand, charged to 50 off 56 balls before slowing down to reach his sixth Test hundred. Jaiswal’s opening partner, KL Rahul, looked in total control, but gave away his wicket carelessly with eight minutes to go before the lunch break. An outswinger by Brydon Carse proved too tempting for Rahul, whose thick outside edge flew directly into the hands of Joe Root at slip.
A flustered Sai Sudharsan, India's new number three, had to navigate choppy waters until the lunch break, but lost his wicket for a duck as Ben Stokes bowled the final over of the morning.
Continuing where they left from ?
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 21, 2025
The partnership for the 4th wicket is now over 150 ??
Updates ?? https://t.co/CuzAEnAMIW#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @ShubmanGill | @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/AIyyumI0Hb
Jaiswal’s innings, marred by cramps toward the end, ended soon after tea, as Stokes claimed his second wicket. The tourists moved to 359-3 with Gill ending the day’s play on 127 not out.
After the day’s play, Jaiswal told BBC Today: “It was very special, it meant a lot to me. I just wanted to get in and do something for my team, for my country, and for myself after the work I have put in. I loved it.”
According to the BBC, Headingly has a long history of teams coming from behind to win Tests, with the previous six Tests having been won by the team that bowled first.
