India dominated Day 1 of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 with a clinical batting display against hosts England, ending the day at an imposing 359 for 3 in 85 overs.
The high-octane opener to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy saw captain Shubman Gill lead from the front with a commanding unbeaten 127, flanked by an audacious 65* from Rishabh Pant.
The day began with England winning the toss and opting to bowl first under overcast skies. However, their decision quickly came under scrutiny as India’s top order capitalised on a flat pitch. Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his purple patch, slamming a stylish 101 before being undone by Ben Stokes.
KL Rahul added a fluent 42 before falling to Brydon Carse, while young Sai Sudharsan departed for a duck. But Gill remained unflustered, anchoring the innings with poise and precision. Pant, true to his explosive style, entertained the crowd with six boundaries and two sixes, setting up India for a massive first-innings total.
England’s bowlers toiled but found little assistance from the surface. Ben Stokes was the lone bright spot with two wickets, while Carse chipped in with one. Woakes, Tongue, and Bashir remained wicketless despite tidy spells.
With seven wickets in hand and set batters at the crease, India will aim to extend their dominance on Day 2.
England, on the other hand, must regroup quickly if they hope to turn the tide in this high-stakes final.
