Rohan Chowdhury in Leeds
Team India produced a dominant batting display on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Headingley, finishing the day on a commanding 359 for 3. Captain Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 127, alongside Rishabh Pant, his deputy, who is on 65*. Their unbroken partnership has added 138 runs so far, putting India firmly in control.
It was a bold decision from England skipper Ben Stokes to opt to bowl first after winning the toss. While there were murmurs that the surface was more suited to batting first and building scoreboard pressure, England backed their instincts. Tim Southee, serving as England’s specialist skill consultant, later explained the logic, saying, “The colour of the pitch and moisture was the thought behind choosing to bowl first.”
Interestingly, Gill also admitted he would have chosen to bowl first, suggesting that both teams read the pitch similarly. But once play began, it was India who asserted dominance, courtesy of a solid start from openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, followed by Gill and Pant consolidating the innings.
One of the key aspects of the day was how Gill handled the testing period after lunch. India had just lost two wickets in quick succession just before the interval—Rahul and debutant Sai Sudharsan—when the captain walked in. It was a precarious moment in the game, but Gill steadied the innings with poise, showcasing maturity well beyond his years.
What makes Gill’s performance even more impressive is the meticulous preparation that preceded it. On the eve of the match, he underwent a focussed net session. Starting with throwdowns, he then faced Arshdeep Singh and two local Yorkshire net bowlers—one a right-arm pacer, the other a left-arm wrist spinner. In the final 20 minutes of that hour-and-ten-minute-long session, Gill specifically asked for a new ball.
“Naya ball le ao ab [Now bring the new ball],” he told the bowlers. It now seems prophetic, as he will resume Day 2 facing a relatively fresh one, which has been in play for only five overs.
This sets up a fascinating passage of play on the second morning. With the new ball in hand, England’s bowlers will be hungry for early wickets. “We have the new ball,” said Southee in the press conference. “Let’s make the most of it in the morning.”
Gill’s unbeaten 127, studded with 16 boundaries and a six, evokes memories of two iconic Indian innings at Headingley, both by No. 4 batters. In 1986, Dilip Vengsarkar scored an unbeaten 102 in the second innings, having already contributed 61 in the first. His knock helped set up a commanding target, leading to a 279-run win for India.
Then, in 2002, it was Sachin Tendulkar’s turn. Batting at No. 4, he produced a sublime 193, sharing crucial stands with Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. That effort powered India to a massive first-innings total of 628, setting the stage for an innings-and-46-run victory.
With a well-set Gill and an in-tune Pant at the crease, and the scoreboard reading 359/3, India will look to build an imposing total on Day 2. How far this partnership can go—and how effectively Gill can translate his preparation into performance against the new ball—will be the morning’s key storyline.
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The captain and vice captain put India in command. @gargiraut15 and @BoriaMajumdar saab analyze the young side’s clinical show on Day 1.@HSBC_IN #ENGvsIND #HeadingleyTest pic.twitter.com/k0688pDunx
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) June 21, 2025