India Dominates Day 1 Under New Captain Gill

India began a new era in Test cricket under Shubman Gill’s captaincy by reaching 359/3 on Day 1 against England at Headingley, with centuries from Gill (127*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), and an unbeaten 65 from vice-captain Rishabh Pant. The performance drew praise from Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, evoking memories of India’s 2002 Leeds victory. Gill’s century placed him among the top Indian players with the most international hundreds before age 25, alongside Tendulkar and Kohli. India’s commanding start, with over 300 runs on the opening day, is a rare achievement abroad and marks a strong transition after retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Gill may face a minor ICC sanction for breaching kit regulations by wearing black socks, classed as a potential Level 1 violation. Former coach Ravi Shastri urged Gill to remain patient and composed, highlighting the challenges of leading a young team in England.