On Day 1 of the five-match Test series between England and India at Headingley, India scored 359/3 in 85 overs. Ben Stokes sent the visitors in to bat first, and they dominated the day.
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal started out well. The duo handled the new ball threat with apparent ease. India dominated the opening hour of the day, finishing with a score of 52/0 after 15 overs. By the end of the 24th over, they had scored 91 runs without losing a wicket. But soon after, Rahul (42 off 78) sliced at a wide one, resulting in his demise.
Early Lunch was called when debutant Sai Sudharsan attempted to flip a delivery down the leg into Jamie Smith’s hands. The left-hander was out for a four-ball duck. Jaiswal scored his first Test half-century in his debut match in England. A few overs later, Shubman Gill scored his first half-century as Test captain. Jaiswal reached his century on the final ball of a 13-run over by Brydon Carse.
By the time Tea was called, India had reached 215/2 after 51 overs.
Ben Stokes struck in his first over of the third session, sending Jaiswal (101 off 159) back for a ripper. Stokes did not score another boundary for the next eight overs. Rishabh Pant, who was already in his forties at the time, led the squad 300 to a maximum.
A blazing drive through the cover region brought up Gill’s ton. India reached 331 by the end of 80 overs. Rishabh Pant registered a half-century in the same over in which the new ball was taken. Gill and Pant ended the day on 127* and 65*, respectively. They ended up scoring at a rate above four at the end of the day’s play.