TimesofIndia.com in Leeds: Yashasvi Jaiswal battled more than just the England bowling attack at Headingley on Friday. The 23-year-old opener, who struck a magnificent 101 on the opening day of the first Test, revealed after stumps that he had to deal with cramps in both hands during his innings – but refused to let the discomfort stop him.“I had cramps in both hands but it happens,” Jaiswal said with a smile during the post-day press conference. “I kept working on my game so that I can express myself in the middle. Amazing to bat with Shubman Gill and enjoyed my time in the middle with him.”Jaiswal’s gritty knock, his third century against England and fifth overall in Tests, helped India reach a commanding 359/3 at stumps after being sent in to bat by Ben Stokes. His 129-run partnership with Shubman Gill for the third wicket laid the foundation for a powerful start to India’s red-ball reset.With Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R. Ashwin no longer in the mix, Jaiswal and Gill are at the heart of India’s next-gen Test revival. And Jaiswal knows it. “We will try and do well for our team and the country,” he said. “Mental switch is very important when you are playing under pressure. To stay in a good environment is key.”
Captain Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 127 by stumps – his first century as captain and sixth overall – becoming only the fourth Indian to score a ton in his maiden innings as Test skipper. He now shares that rare milestone with Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, and Virat Kohli.Jaiswal reached his hundred in 144 balls with 16 fours and a six, showing a mix of patience and flair, even as fatigue set in. “Preparations were very good before the series in Beckenham. The ground was so good, great atmosphere. There were challenges today as well,” he said, underscoring the hard yards put in ahead of the series.
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India ended the day firmly on top, thanks in part to Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 65*, which included a thrilling swatted six off Chris Woakes in the final over. Pant and Gill’s unbroken 138-run stand took the momentum further away from England.England bowling coach Tim Southee conceded India had outplayed them on Day 1. “It was a good surface throughout. India negotiated well in the first hour. KL Rahul left well. Shubman Gill played a great hand in his first Test as captain. There was effort throughout from the bowlers. We can hopefully make inroads with the new ball tomorrow morning.”But Friday belonged to Jaiswal — not just for his runs, but for the resilience that came with them. He summed up the spirit of a generation looking to carve its own legacy: “I enjoy every century, but first is first. So I enjoy it.”
