India vs England: Jaiswal sculpted a masterclass, dispatching a solidly-paced century: 101 from 158 balls, loaded with 16 fours and one six .
Though having struggled with forearm cramps towards the end of the innings, he was left not out until mowed down by Ben Stokes.
His fifth Test century came at a sharp pace (144 balls), garnering appreciation not only from teammates but also from all over social media, where everyone was labeling his aggressive style as “Jaisball” .
India vs England: Shubman Gill's Strong Begin
Captain Gill too impressed in his debut as leader, underpinning a key stand: 64⋅0f 94 balls (9×4s).
Finishing the day on 68–70 and still unbeaten, he exceeded expectations, leading India through the post-lunch period when wickets had fallen .
Main Partnership & Progress
The top order, featuring KL Rahul (42) and debutant S. Sudharsan (0), had taken India to 215/2 at tea and around 234/3 by stumps.
The Gill–Jaiswal resistance contributed more than 120 runs through dogged shot-play, leaving England reeling in spite of beginning on a bowler-friendly surface.
Rishabh Pant's Antics & Stokes' Spell
The mood became light-hearted when Pant cheekily marked the occasion by running in reaction to a four off one of Stokes’ overs—simple repartee that put smiles on faces. (Note: direct source unavailable but referred to in the user prompt.)
But Ben Stokes changed the complexion of the game by removing Jaiswal and also took the wicket of Sudharsan, giving England a semblance of control
England's Overs & Pitch Conditions
Ben Stokes opted to bowl first, relying on initial seam swing—a decision that was soon decried as India charged ahead, unaffected by the bowling.
Although England’s seamers, including newcomer Carse, achieved fleeting successes, they lacked consistency on a strokeplay-friendly pitch
Atmosphere & Significance
The game was emotive as both sides wore black armbands to honor Ahmedabad crash victims.
Headingley was electric, albeit understandably bereft of Indian flags this time—perhaps due to fewer Kohli-era fan appearances .
This game is the starting point for the WTC 2025–27 cycle, with India in new skipper Gill—looking to gain momentum abroad—while England looks for redemption at home.
What's Next?
With India closing out Day 1 in strong form (~234/3), England will have to regroup. The second day promises a traditional test of strategy—will Stokes’s rampage yield dividends, or will India continue their dominance?
