TON UP: Yashasvi Jaiswal sets the tone for India with a century on first appearance in England

Yashasvi Jaiswal lit up the proceedings on Day 1 of the India versus England first Test at Leeds with a century which was durable and defining. Against an English attack which was not even County Class, the southpaw showcased his batting skills with a silken touch to hammer the first century of the series for the rechristened Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy on Friday.

The build-up to the high-profile series has been hectic and demanding. More questions have been asked of the Indians, in the post RoKo era, a phrase used to describe the dominance of Virat Kohi and Rohit Sharma in Test cricket. Indeed, the morning and afternoon on a clear day belonged to the Indian batters, who were put into bat by English skipper Ben Stokes. That the English attack comprising not just unfamiliar names but also blokes who could not test the Indian openers, Jaiswal and KL Rahul was a clear sign, India are in with plenty of confidence with a new captain in command, Shubman Gill.

Yashasvi Jasiwal has negotiated the Englishmen before as well, when they toured India in 2024. Yet, to play his first Test in England, the home to cricket, and bat with confidence was a delight to watch. This young man, 21, was born in Suriya, Uttar Pradesh. True to his humble background and the skills he has honed by playing in Mumbai, Jaiswal is fearless. The world of cricket had already seen him in full bloom during the tour to West Indies in 2023 and against the Englishmen in India. The two tons and plenty of runs he scored in 2024 are still remembered by the former captains of English cricket. These captains have turned commentators and had no hesitation in showering lavish praise on Jaiswal, After all, Jaiswal had launched a flurry of sixes as well against the Englishmen last year.

At a venue in Headingley, Leeds, where the weather conditions in the first two sessions was ideal for watching Test cricket, Jaiswal showed he had the technique and appetite to bat strongly. Fans in India have grown watching English fast bowlers who can attack in any condition. Obviously, minus their stalwarts like Stuart Broad and James Anderson and a few more speedsters injured, this pace pack was prosaic. The name of Chris Woakes, who opened the attack, will ring a bell. But even against Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and even Ben Stokes pressing himself into the attack early, Jaiswal was on song.

Left-handers are naturally graceful. They bring into focus an elegance which stands out for its visual appeal. For Jaiswal to have stuck around in such a cool manner with KL Rahul and then his new skipper, Shubman Gill, was defining. It is moments like these which define a batter when they run away with the momentum under seeming pressure. After all, England at home are not considered easy if you flip through the annals. But then, Yashasvi Jaiswal is young. He represents a generation which is fearless.

Just to jog the readers’ memory, Jaiswal had a decent outing in the Indian Premier League 2025 edition for Rajasthan Royals, when he scored 559 runs in 14 innings. For those who says the IPL does not do good to a cricketer, Jaiswal showed he is in great touch. He was batting on 101 off 158 balls, where the 16 fours and six showed he can be merciless. Way to go, Yashasvi.