
Picture Credit: X
On the opening day of the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Leeds, hosts England struggled to put up stiff competition while bowling first against India. Except for captain Ben Stokes, all other bowlers struggled to be among the wickets. Brydon Carse inflicted the first damage to India in the form of KL Rahul but the pacer couldn’t trouble the visitors later. After the day’s play, India are in a comfortable position as they have hoarded 359/3 in 85 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed 101 off 158 while skipper Shubman Gill also hit his sixth hundred. Gill, along with his deputy Rishabh Pant, is at the crease as both have built a 138-run stand together for the fourth wicket. Pant has also been impactful as he is unbeaten at a score of 65.
Noting these scenes, England will be tense as they will have to get rid of both Gill and Pant to contain India from posting a huge score on the board. Before Pant’s arrival at the crease, the English team made a bizarre error which grabbed a lot of eyeballs. Prior to the tea break, on Ben Stokes' delivery, Jaiswal played a shot towards the slip, where Harry Brook was deployed. However, the ball fell short and went on to touch wicketkeeper Jamie Smith’s helmet placed behind the latter. Noting the incident, India’s scorecard got a boost by five runs.
Shubman Gill hits back at his critics with a spectacular ton
Shubman Gill has done a remarkable job as captain and batter with his sensational hundred. Following his appointment as India Test skipper, his critics were questioning his batting numbers and inexperience in England. However, Gill has answered them with his extraordinary century. He is currently unbeaten at a score of 127 off 175.
His knock is studded with 17 boundaries (16 fours and a maximum). On Day 2, he will look to continue his superb batting approach to help his side make the job more challenging for the home side.