India’s commanding first innings at Headingley became a tale of two halves on Day 2 of the 1st Test against England.
After posting a robust 430/3, India endured a shocking collapse to be bowled out for 471, losing their last seven wickets for a mere 41 runs.
Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a career-best 147, anchoring the innings with poise and flair. He was ably supported by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who notched up a sublime century, and Rishabh Pant, who showcased his trademark aggression en route to his 7th Test hundred, becoming the Indian wicketkeeper with the most centuries in Test history, surpassing MS Dhoni.
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England’s bowlers, however, struck back with vengeance in the second session. Josh Tongue emerged as the standout performer with figures of 4 wickets, delivering a lethal spell that tore through India’s tail. In his typical all-round brilliance, Ben Stokes scalped key wickets, including that of Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur, punctuating India’s innings with sharp breakthroughs.
The sudden tumble, triggered from the 104th over onward, saw the likes of Jadeja, Bumrah, Krishna, and Siraj fall in quick succession, disrupting what could have been a 500+ total.
This dramatic shift echoed the famous 2002 Headingley Test, where Indian stalwarts Dravid, Ganguly, and Tendulkar all scored hundreds. Fast-forward to 2025, Gill, Pant, and Jaiswal have etched their names alongside them, but the finish lacked the same finesse.
As England prepares to respond, the match remains tantalizingly poised.
