Three talking points from Day 1 of the first India vs England Test

The Anderson-Tendulkar trophy got off to a rousing start on a bright, sunny afternoon at Headingley as a new-look India made the most of good batting conditions. KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant were among the runs as India’s next generation of stars got off to a positive start in this next WTC cycle. England’s inexperienced bowling attack was put to the sword slightly as they struggled to make any real inroads. The visitors have made a stellar start on what can often be an intimidating tour. There are plenty of taking points from an action-packed opening day at Headingley. Here’s what we picked up on. 

Three talking points from Day 1 of the first England vs India Test: 

1. Placid wicket makes batting easy

Since the past three summers, pitches in England have been distinctly different. To favor their attacking brand of cricket, the pitches have been a bit tepid which has allowed for quick run-scoring. It happened two summers ago when Australia were touring them, and last summer as well when Harry Brook, Joe Root, and the rest scored runs for fun against the visiting Sri Lankan and West Indian teams. 

Before play started today, there was speculation that there was plenty of live grass that could make batting difficult. However, the Indian openers maneuvered the new ball perils as England erred too much on the fuller side. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal got an opening partnership of 91, and then in the second session, Jaiswal and Shubman Gill hammered home the advantage. The pitch flattened out quite a bit as the sun was out, making batting quite easy in the last two sessions of the day. If pitches are to play this way, it could be a long tour for the bowlers. 

2. Shubman Gill steps up in his first Test as Indian captain

Walking into today on his captaincy debut, Shubman Gill would have felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. His record in SENA countries has sparked plenty of conversations in the recent past, and he would have felt the pressure of taking over the coveted number 4 spot in this Indian team. 

However, he silenced his critics and doubters as he started positively and got runs in his very first innings on his captaincy debut. Shubman Gill scored some eye-catching cover drives and straight drives, playing positively from the onset. Under good batting conditions, Gill took down the English bowlers en route to a superb century. This knock would undoubtedly give the new Indian skipper plenty of confidence leading into this series. 

3. Jaiswal shines once again

With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli having recently retired, a certain Yashasvi Jaiswal stepped up to fill those big shoes with another trademark knock. After a century on their Test debut away to West Indies, a double hundred at home to England, and a glorious ton in Perth, Jaiswal now adds another jewel to his illustrious Test crown with a century in his first-ever game in England. 

In a knock that combined application and intent, Jaiswal did superbly to blunt the new ball, playing his drives anytime the English bowlers went too full. In the second session with better batting conditions, the southpaw scored a lot more freely and confidently to notch up a stellar ton and put India in a commanding position on Day 1.