Yashasvi Jaiswal Shines with Century in First Test Against England

Jaiswal's Remarkable Performance

Yashasvi Jaiswal achieved his fifth Test century and his first on English soil, playing a crucial role in stabilizing India's innings after early wickets fell on the first day of the opening Test against England in Leeds. He reached the milestone in 144 balls, hitting 16 fours and a six. Captain Shubman Gill also contributed with a half-century. India began the day with confidence, as KL Rahul (42) and Jaiswal formed a solid opening partnership. However, England struck during the lunch break, taking down both Rahul and debutant Sai Sudharsan, leaving India at 92-2 at lunch.

Dominance of Jaiswal and Rahul

Jaiswal's innings featured an elegant drive through mid-off against Woakes, while Rahul showcased his skills with stylish strokes through the covers. The first session saw a total of 16 boundaries. Although there were moments of uncertainty, with Jaiswal missing a few opportunities and Rahul edging one past the slips, these were minor mistakes. This century holds special significance for Jaiswal, who had faced challenges during practice matches against the England Lions, often getting out to deliveries outside the off-stump. His patience paid off as he handled the tough deliveries with ease.

Favorable Conditions for Batters

England's captain Ben Stokes opted to bowl first, likely influenced by the batting-friendly nature of the Headingley pitch, which has favored batsmen recently. While the bowlers experienced some swing and movement, the Indian openers appeared comfortable in the sunny weather.

England's Bowling Woes

The English bowling attack was missing key players James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Bowlers Stokes, Carse, Tongue, and Woakes failed to pose a significant threat to the Indian batsmen, often delivering full-length balls that allowed Jaiswal and Rahul to play their favorite shots.