Sachin Tendulkar lavished reward on India’s spectacular begin to the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy towards England on day one of many Check at Headingley, with the batting legend recalling reminiscences of India’s related Leeds efficiency in 2002.
In hindsight, captain Shubman Gill would think about shedding the toss to England captain Ben Stokes as a blessing in disguise. The 25-year-old additionally wished to emulate the hosts in bowling first had he gained the coin flip on a sunny Friday morning. India would, nonetheless, show England had erred from the outset as KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal fuelled a stable begin, placing on 91 for the primary wicket. The partnership was the longest opening stand at Leeds within the first-innings by a visiting aspect in eight makes an attempt towards England since 2012.
A stable basis laid by KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal enabled India to have an excellent day,” wrote Tendulkar on X.
After Rahul fell earlier than Lunch, Jaiswal and Gill anchored and upped the momentum within the second session with the southpaw first reaching his fifth Check hundred and a primary in England in his maiden innings. Captain Gill then raised the bar on his abroad performances as he cracked his maiden Check hundred outdoors Asia in his 32-match profession. Gill additionally turned solely the fifth Indian to report 100 on Check captaincy debut. In a begin just like the Headingley Check in 2002, India ended the day on 359 for 3 with skipper Gill and his deputy Rishabh Pant unbeaten.
ALSO READ: When Tendulkar, Dravid and Ganguly centuries surprised Headingley in 2002
Hello Champ .. this time it may very well be 4 .. on this good floor .. pant and could also be karun .. the floor on day 1 in 2002 .. was a bit completely different then this ..
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) June 20, 2025
“Congratulations to Yashasvi and Shubman Gill for his or her sensible centuries. Rishabh Pant’s contribution was equally vital for the workforce. India’s batting at this time jogged my memory of the Headingley Check in 2002, when Rahul (Dravid), Sourav Ganguly, and I scored a whole lot within the first innings, and we went on to win the Check. At this time, Yashasvi and Shubman have executed their half. Who would be the third centurion this time?,” Tendulkar requested.
The skipper again then, Ganguly, was fast to watch that the situations have been lots completely different again then when he opted to bat first on the toss amidst frosty situations that challenged the Indian top-order. Led astutely by No. 3 Dravid’s century (148) on the opening day, Tendulkar (193) and Ganguly (127) cashed in on the following days as India racked up a whopping 628/8d earlier than inflicting an innings defeat to the hosts.
Responding to Tendulkar on X, Ganguly predicted a fourth century, hoping that Pant and comeback man Karun Nair may additionally cross the three-figure mark in higher situations.
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“Hello Champ..This time it may very well be 4 (a whole lot) on this good floor. Pant and possibly Karun. The floor on day 1 in 2002 was a bit completely different than this,” remarked Ganguly. India would hope it will all maintain in good stead once more on Saturday towards Stokes and Co.