IND vs ENG 1st Test: Gill, Jaiswal centuries lead India to 359/3 on Day 1 at Headingley. Catch the Day 2 & 3 forecast and analysis of this crucial Test match.
Stumps • Starts 3:00 AM 1st Test, Leeds, June 20 – 24, 2025, India tour of England Prev Next
India (85 ov) 359/3 England Day 1 – England chose to field. Current RR: 4.22 • Last 10 ov (RR): 47/0 (4.70)
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India Dominates Day 1 of Headingley Test as Gill and Jaiswal Shine, Laying a Strong Foundation
The highly anticipated 1st Test of IND vs ENG 2025 kicked off at Headingley, Leeds, with England captain Ben Stokes winning the toss and opting to bowl first. This decision, often a standard approach in English conditions, was made despite relatively sunny weather on Day 1, which surprisingly offered less assistance to the pace bowlers than anticipated. India, under the fresh leadership of Shubman Gill, seized the opportunity, ending the day in a commanding position at 359/3, thanks to magnificent centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill himself, and a fluent fifty from Rishabh Pant.
The match marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle and a significant transition for Indian cricket. With stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and R Ashwin absent from the Test squad for the first time in over a decade, the focus was squarely on the young guard. They delivered emphatically, providing a resounding answer to any questions about India’s batting depth in the post-legend era.
Early Resilience and a Solid Opening Stand: IND vs ENG
India’s innings began with a steady opening partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. Both batters showed intent and discipline, negating the early swing and seam that Headingley is traditionally known for. They weathered the initial storm from England’s pace attack, which, in the absence of veteran James Anderson and the injured Jofra Archer, featured a relatively inexperienced line-up. Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue toiled without much early reward.
The partnership blossomed to 91 runs, setting a crucial platform for India. Rahul, looking in good touch, was the first to depart, falling for a well-made 42. Debutant Sai Sudharsan, unfortunately, couldn’t trouble the scorers, dismissed for a duck shortly after. These quick wickets provided a glimmer of hope for England, momentarily reducing India to 92/2. However, this proved to be a fleeting moment of relief for the hosts.
IND vs ENG 1st Test
The real architects of India’s Day 1 dominance were Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Gill, leading the Test side for the first time, showcased immense maturity and class. His innings was a blend of elegant stroke play and watchful defence. He timed the ball beautifully, finding gaps with ease and playing with minimal follow-through, a testament to his exquisite technique. After a brisk fifty, he composed himself, navigating through some nervy moments in the 90s before reaching a memorable century – his first as India’s Test captain. This landmark not only put India in a strong position but also placed Gill in an elite group of Indian captains to score a century on debut.
Jaiswal, at the other end, complemented Gill perfectly. While he displayed flashes of aggression, his innings was largely built on composure and technical corrections. Having been dismissed poking outside off stump on recent India A tours, Jaiswal showed significant improvement, resisting those temptations and playing closer to his body. His century was a testament to his growing confidence and adaptability to English conditions. The partnership between Gill and Jaiswal was worth 129 runs, utterly deflating the English bowling attack and putting India firmly in control.
Pant’s Explosive Finish and England’s Struggles: IND vs ENG 1st Test
Just when England thought they might get a foothold, dismissing Jaiswal shortly after tea, Rishabh Pant walked in and unleashed his characteristic attacking game. Despite a challenging recent IPL stint, Pant looked close to his red-ball best, quickly getting off the mark and finding boundaries. His aggressive approach provided the perfect foil to Gill, who continued to anchor the innings. Pant reached his half-century with a somewhat unconventional boundary, bringing up 3000 Test runs in the process.
The partnership between Gill and Pant blossomed, adding an unbroken 138 runs by stumps. They scored at a brisk rate, especially in the final session, where 144 runs were plundered in 34 overs for the loss of just one wicket. England’s bowlers, particularly Woakes and Tongue, struggled to find a breakthrough, highlighting the challenges of their inexperienced attack in the absence of seasoned campaigners. Shoaib Bashir toiled hard with his off-spin but lacked adequate support from the pace battery.
The Headingley pitch, while showing some early green tinge, flattened out considerably under the sunny conditions, proving more batting-friendly than anticipated. This played directly into India’s hands, allowing their batters to settle and score freely once the new ball softened. The weather forecast for Day 2 suggests possible afternoon showers and thunderstorms, which could introduce more lateral movement for the seamers. This makes India’s strong start even more crucial, as they will look to maximize their scoring opportunities before any potential rain interruptions.
Day 2: India Aims for a Colossal Total: IND vs ENG
As Day 2 dawns, India will look to capitalize on their strong position and post a mammoth first-innings total. Shubman Gill (127*) and Rishabh Pant (65*) are well set, and the focus will be on extending their partnership and pushing the score beyond the 500-run mark. With the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur yet to bat, India possesses significant batting depth. A big first-innings score will put immense pressure on England, forcing them to bat under the weight of a considerable deficit.
The English bowlers, meanwhile, face a daunting task. They will be hoping for the forecast rain and overcast conditions to bring the Dukes ball into play more effectively. Early wickets will be paramount if they are to restrict India. Ben Stokes will need to rally his troops and find ways to break the Gill-Pant partnership quickly. The new ball, if taken, could offer some respite, but consistency and wicket-taking deliveries will be crucial.
The battle for ascendancy on Day 2 promises to be captivating. Can India continue their dominance and bat England out of the game? Or will England’s bowlers find their rhythm and restrict India to a manageable total, paving the way for their aggressive “Bazball” approach in the second innings? The Headingley Test is poised for an intriguing second day, with the weather potentially playing a significant role in shaping the contest.
Day 3: The Shifting Sands of Headingley and the Bazball Threat: IND vs ENG
Day 3 of the 1st Test at Headingley presents a pivotal moment in this enthralling contest. After India’s dominant Day 1, accumulating a formidable 359/3, the question remains: how much further can they extend their lead, and how will England respond? The weather forecast for Day 3 suggests a drop in temperature and some light showers early on, which could offer more assistance to the seamers. This shifting dynamic often defines Test matches at Headingley, a ground known for its dramatically changing pitch conditions.
IND vs ENG
India will resume their innings with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant at the crease, both looking to convert their overnight scores into even larger ones. Their partnership, already a significant one, will be crucial in setting England an imposing target. The longer they bat, the more disheartened the English bowlers will become, and the more India’s total will swell. The aim for India will undoubtedly be to bat well into the second session, perhaps even tea, before declaring or being bowled out, allowing their bowlers enough time to attack a potentially tired English batting line-up.
However, the English team, under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball” philosophy, is renowned for its aggressive and counter-attacking approach. Regardless of the target, England will likely come out swinging, looking to score quickly and put pressure back on the Indian bowlers. This style of play, while entertaining, also carries inherent risks, offering opportunities for wickets to opposition teams. The Indian bowlers, particularly Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, will relish the chance to bowl to an attacking English side in potentially favorable conditions.
IND vs ENG 1st Test
The pitch on Day 3 is expected to settle down further, and as footmarks develop, spin could become a more significant factor. This brings Ravindra Jadeja into play for India, who will be keen to exploit any turn or bounce. England’s spin option, Shoaib Bashir, will also be looking to make inroads, especially if the pitch starts to offer some assistance. The contest between England’s aggressive batting and India’s potent bowling attack, aided by any turn for the spinners, promises to be a thrilling spectacle.
IND vs ENG
For England, the key will be to pick up early wickets on Day 3 to prevent India from establishing an unassailable lead. The new ball, if it is still relatively fresh, or if conditions allow for reverse swing, could be crucial for their pacers. If India manages to bat for a substantial period on Day 2 and Day 3 morning, England will need to show immense resilience and adapt their “Bazball” approach to the match situation, possibly tempering their aggression to build a solid foundation. The psychological battle will be as intense as the cricketing one. Day 3 is set to be a defining day in this captivating Test match, with both teams vying for control and seeking to dictate the terms of engagement.