Dominant Centuries from Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal Power India to Commanding Position on Day 1

Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal Score Brilliant Centuries to Put India in Command on Day 1 of Leeds Test Against England

After the five Tests between England and India began, it was a high starting point with emphatic centuries from both Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal that propelled Day 1 to an impressive 359 for 3 by stumps at Leeds. Bad News-The toss favors the opponents, and the Indian debutant, B. Sai Sudharsan, was out for naught. Yet that didn’t detract from the Indian team’s performance, pride, and competence at the day ending.

It was Jaiswal who took the initiative early on, demonstrating maturity and calculation. The 23-year-old opener constructed his innings with sufficient patience, posting a half-century off 96 balls before accelerating to his fifth Test hundred in only 48 more deliveries. His 101 off 159 balls contained 16 crisp boundaries and a six, exemplifying his growth into a reliable top-order batter. Jaiswal’s rise has thus far been meteoric, with centuries now in the West Indies, India, Australia, and England.

Read more: Virat Kohli ‘Gutted’ as Stampede Kills 11 During RCB’s IPL Victory Celebration in Bengaluru

He was able to consolidate that initial growth with KL Rahul (42 off 78). They added an impressive 91-run opening stand, neutralizing new-ball attack from England, and rendering even the most buoyant home crowd silent. Rahul appeared fluent but fell just before the lunch break, closely following Sudharsan. However, the double strike did precious little to dampen India.

There were no idle moments once the lunch session was over, and it was fully engaged when Shubman Gill stepped up to the plate. Aged only 25, and leading the side for the first time in a Test match, Gill batted with complete confidence and panache. His unbeaten 127 was one of controlled aggression that sewed together a vital 100-plus stand with Rishabh Pant, who supported his captain with a breezy 65*.

Gill’s innings was unique for its balance-soft hands through the on-side, majestic off-drives, and precise footwork against both seam and spin. The crescendo to this piece of music would come when he caressed Chris Woakes for an off-drive followed by a classy flick, illuminating the effortless timing and technique that would be underlined by the whole thing. This is, of course, Gill’s sixth Test century, but the first outside Asia, so this makes it all the more special in the context of his debut as captain.

Read more: In the Wake of the Chinnaswamy Stadium Tragedy has Virat Kohli Become a Convenient Scapegoat?

In this surface, true for batting–the kind of surface England had aspired for themselves-the Indian batters turned on the tide. Jaiswal’s feat was exceptional for the control he exercised especially against the off-stump, an area of concern for him in the recent matches against England Lions. This, however, he has now settled down to suit well, showing a composed head and close technique.

The return of Pant to the long format, though, added to the arsenal of the middle order. Gill’s company kept the scoreboard flowing at the other end with quick runs as the day wore on. Their brilliant partnership ensured not just recovery from the little hiccup before lunch but also ended Day 1 on a positive note.

Wickets with hand, runs flowingly on, India seems to be ready to dictate terms in this first Test. The challenge now for England is to strike the Gill-Pant stand dead early on Day 2, or it could just slither away from them.

We’re now on WhatsApp. Click to join. 

Like this post?
Register at One World News to never miss out on videos, celeb interviews, and best reads.