India Off to a Strong Start with Gill and Jaiswal Excelling on Day 1 at Leeds

India began the first Test against England in Leeds with a strong batting performance that has put the series on a strong footing. The day started off with England winning the toss and electing to bowl first but it soon became a difficult day in the field for the hosts with Indian batsmen settling down and displaying good form. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is off to a thrilling beginning with India building a massive total of 359 runs for the loss of only three wickets at the end of Day 1. The resilient beginning was achieved at the hands of incredible innings by Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal who both made unforgettable performances. Gill was not out at 127 while his partner Rishabh Pant remained not out at 65.

India began the day with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul opening the innings. The duo set India up for a strong start by compiling a 91-run partnership that provided the visitors with early momentum. Jaiswal was in good touch from the outset playing patiently and accurately. Rahul assisted him well at the opposite end providing India with the sort of opening platform that is so vital in Test cricket. But England fought back strongly just before lunch by claiming two wickets within five deliveries. KL Rahul was lost at a point when he was going great and Sai Sudharsan who made his Test debut was unable to leave an impression and was dismissed for a four-ball duck. This small success provided a ray of hope to England but India again took charge.

Post-lunch Jaiswal kept playing his fantastic cricket and was on his way to a century before finally getting dismissed after scoring a fantastic ton. It was England captain Ben Stokes who could finally break the stand by getting rid of Jaiswal just after the last session. Unperturbed by that breakthrough India's innings was still far from slowing down. It was then that Shubman Gill was at his dominating best. Captain of the side Gill played one of the finest innings in his career demonstrating class timing and maturity throughout the innings. His 127 not out at stumps was a captain's innings in every way. He appeared utterly comfortable against the England bowlers and led the innings with assured confidence.

At the other end Rishabh Pant had a vital supporting act as he was left unbeaten on 65 at the close of play. With his aggressive game Pant seemed calm and ensured India moved the scoreboard along. The Gill-Pant partnership increased England's frustration with their composed and steady stand. Their performance saw that India closed out the day with a sturdy score and possessed all the momentum heading into Day 2. Having already scored 359 runs with seven wickets still in hand India is in a strong position.

The English bowlers experienced a long day at the office. In spite of having won the toss and deciding to bowl first their plan did not go as expected. While Ben Stokes was able to get an important wicket in the last session the rest of the bowling line-up was unable to make any impression. Josh Tongue Brydon Carse Shoaib Bashir and Chris Woakes all attempted to get through but India's batsmen stuck to their task. The bowlers struggled to manage the run rate and the run rate of 4.22 per over for India showed their dominance.

The Headingley pitch seemed ideal for batting and the Indian batsmen made the most of the situation. With the sun shining bright and the outfield fast the ball was coming nicely onto the bat. The Indian cricket team seemed well-prepared and on target as they played with a definite plan. One could see that the top order was well-planned and had followed it to perfection. With contributions from various players and a good batting performance it was a day to cherish for India.

This Test match also initiates the start of the high-profile Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy that honors two titans of the game from England and India. Both sides are keen to make a point and the Indian side has certainly done that with their batting in the first day. The fact that they have included youth names like Sudharsan and Jaiswal and veteran names like Gill Pant and Rahul shows how India has balance in the team. Despite Sudharsan not getting his debut chance the overall batting effort was a good beginning to the tour.

India's playing eleven comprised Yashasvi Jaiswal KL Rahul Sai Sudharsan Shubman Gill Rishabh Pant Karun Nair Ravindra Jadeja Shardul Thakur Jasprit Bumrah Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. England had Zak Crawley Ben Duckett Ollie Pope Joe Root Harry Brook Ben Stokes Jamie Smith Chris Woakes Brydon Carse Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir. The line-ups indicate that both teams are sending forth strong teams with a combination of youth and experience.

While the teams gear up for Day 2 everyone's attention will be on how England will react to India's mammoth first innings score. Whether the hosts can stage a comeback or whether India will continue to dominate will be the point to watch out for. The match is proving to be an exhilarating encounter and with India already well placed the next day promises to see more thrilling action. The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy has begun on a promising note and fans will be keen to know the way this struggle shapes up over the course of the next few days.