Cricket Scorecard

7.21 pm IST (1351 GMT) - Well then, we have an update! As per the broadcasters, play is expected to resume in under 5 minutes time, at 7.25 pm IST (1355 GMT), so settle in as we should see plenty of action pretty soon.

7.10 pm IST (1340 GMT) - The live visuals now depict that the rain has subsided completely and the covers are coming off. Not an umbrella in sight and we might have a quick resumption, which is great news. Conditions seem brighter as well. The ground staff can be seen working their magic, but for now, the hover cover is still on, probably as a precaution, given that there might be some more dark clouds coming in. The Indian players can be seen playing a game of 'footy' and look eager to get goin

6.54 pm IST (1324 GMT) - Okay, now this is bad. More covers are being called out now, as the drizzle has developed into a pretty heavy fall of rain. We might have to wait longer than expected now. Former Indian stumper, Deep Dasgupta confirms that there will be a reasonable amount of delay but the good news is that the fourth umpire is in the middle, albeit with an umbrella on.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Well, we will have to wait. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were called to the middle by the umpires but as soon as they came down the stairs from the team's dressing room, the drizzle returned.

... THE SECOND INNINGS ...

The Indian players are practicing their fielding drills at the moment and the hover cover is off again. Now, the Indians get into a huddle and the English openers are called out from the team balcony to bat out in the middle. Given the way India collapsed this afternoon, England would be happy but India will not mind it too much either as their own seamers could make merry in these conditions.

Jaiswal, Gill and Pant lit up the innings with three centuries as England just could find consistency in their lines and lengths. They toiled for the whole of Friday and even for around 90 minutes on Saturday, seemed out of focus. However, as they say, you never know when things can change in cricket, especially in Tests. India were looking at 550-600 around 30 minutes to go for Lunch on Day 2 and suddenly, in next to no time, find themselves ready to bowl, losing their last 7 wickets for 41 r

Scratch that again. The hover cover is back on as the drizzle starts to get heavier. So it does imply that we might have a delayed start to the second innings. A magnificent first-innings score of 471 from India, albeit it has a weird-looking scorecard. Three batters made hundreds, but only one other crossed 15, with 5 batters dismissed in single digits. 3 of those single-digits were ducks under 5 balls, so it has been an innings which has seen contruction as well as a collapse. Yashasvi Jaiswa

That did not last long. England have wrapped up things inside 5 overs post Lunch. They have taken 7 wickets either side of Lunch and from 430/3, India have been restricted to 471. Confusing weather scenes at Headingley, as with that wicket, the roller cover came on but now, it is off and there is no over cover in place.

Josh Tongue to Prasidh Krishna, ! BOWLED'EM! Josh Tongue with a flourish towards the end and he ends up with a four-fer. Tongue goes quick and full and gets the ball tailing back into leg stump. Prasidh Krishna leaves a big gap between bat and pad as he tries to swing across the line and is beaten all ends up. The ball knocks the leg stump out of the ground and India finish with 471 runs on the board!

Josh Tongue to Prasidh Krishna, Length ball on off, looking to shape it away, Krishna hangs back and manages to jam the bat down in time.

Josh Tongue to Mohammed Siraj, Full of a good length and attacking off and middle, tucked away neatly to the right of mid-wicket by Siraj for another single.

Josh Tongue to Mohammed Siraj, Marginally short and angled in from around leg, Siraj gets inside the line to pull but misses.

Josh Tongue to Prasidh Krishna, Good length, honing in on the stumps, Prasidh Krishna jams it down to mid on and scampers through for a single.

Prasidh Krishna is the last batter in, replacing Ravindra Jadeja. Meanwhile, the light has faded once again at Headingley and the floodlights have been switched on to full effect.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, ! TIMBER! Josh Tongue with his third wicket of the game and he's making light work of the Indian tail now, albeit Jadeja is a class batter.

Ravindra Jadeja is in the elite list of Indian allrounders who have scored 3000 runs and taken 300 wickets in Test cricket.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Fuller in length, outside off, Siraj makes a bit of a let leave as the ball too nibbles away late and goes through to the keeper.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Attempted yorker on off, looking to swing it across the outside edge. Siraj manages to block it out.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Wider on the crease, bowled on a shorter length and outside off. This one leaves the right-hander and Siraj ends up playing well inside the line.

Brydon Carse to Ravindra Jadeja, Goes very full now and tries to angle it across off, Jadeja pushes it out wide of covers for a single.

Brydon Carse to Ravindra Jadeja, ! That is a shot! Length ball on middle and leg, Ravindra Jadeja advances, making a bit of room and just punches the lofted drive sweetly and well over mid on for another boundary.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Not what Carse would have wanted on the first delivery. Shorter one at the hips, tucked away down to long leg for a single by Siraj and he gets Jadeja back on strike.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, ! Uh, oh! A rare blemish in the field from Brydon Carse. Tongue brings out the bumper, bowling it over middle, Ravindra Jadeja leans back and firms the pull behind square leg. Carse sprints to his left in the deep and gets there but slips and lets the ball through the hands for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, Bowls it full and around off, Ravindra Jadeja shapes up for the heave but ends up jamming it towards mid on.

Josh Tongue to Mohammed Siraj, Goes for the inswinging yorker but ends up serving a low full toss on the pads, Mohammed Siraj flicks it through square leg and picks up a single.

Mohammed Siraj walks in next, at number 10, replacing Jasprit Bumrah.

Josh Tongue to Jasprit Bumrah, ! EDGED AND CAUGHT! Easy as you like. Josh Tongue pitches the ball up around off and middle, gets the ball to shape away in the air as well. Jasprit Bumrah is drawn into the drive and ends up getting an outside edge straight to second slip. The ball goes into the bread basket of Harry Brook over there and he makes no mistake. Bumrah departs for a five-ball duck and India are now 458/8.

Josh Tongue to Jasprit Bumrah, Length ball around off, angling in and then holding its line, Bumrah presses back and defends it away from the body to cover-point.

Josh Tongue to Jasprit Bumrah, Tickled around the corner. Fuller in length, slanted onto the pads, Jasprit Bumrah misses the flick and the ball clips the pads and goes fine of leg gully and rolls away for four leg byes.

Still no Woakes. Josh Tongue has been given the ball with a change od ends. 18-0-79-1 so far.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Tossed up full and on off, blocked off the front foot by Jadeja. Maiden over!

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, A lot more flight on this one, tossing it up on middle, Jadeja leans on and pushes it towards cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Nagging length, drifted into midle and leg, Jadeja lunges and stabs it down the deck.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Full, around leg, Jadeja lunges a big deal but the ball still bounces and goes off the handle, just wide of leg slip, to his right.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Around middle and leg, tossed up slightly Ravindra Jadeja drives it back to the bowler.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, No run.

Time for Woakes?

Ben Stokes to Jasprit Bumrah, Good length around the fifth stump line, Bumrah presses back and leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to Jasprit Bumrah, A gentle loosener to begin the new session. A length ball, spilled down the leg side.

When you are in England, expect the unexpected. Around 10 minutes back, it looked heavily overcast with the pitch being covered. However, now, though the conditions have not changed by much, it seems to have brightened up and the hover cover is off. The drizzle has gone as well.

... DAY 2, SESSION 2 ...

Meanwhile, in Galle, the fist Test of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh's 2025-27 WTC cycle has predictably ended in a draw. Taijul Islam's 3 wickets gave Bangladesh hopes of a collapse in the Lankan ranks but it wasn't to be. It was a match similar to the ones in the early 2000s, with the pitch as flat as a pancake. Bangladesh chose to bat and made 495 in their first innings, through centuries from skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim while Litton Das chipped in with 90. In reply, Sri Lank

'It has started to rain', quips Stuart Broad on air. Right behind him, we can see the hover cover being placed on the pitch. The main covers are not on yet, as it is just a light drizzle. But as per the rules of cricket, we cannot start unless the drizzle stops completely. It might be possible that the covers might come on as a precautionary measure because there is the forecast for thundershowers right around this time. So maybe, we might have a delayed start to the second session and could pos

Stuart Broad is on air at the moment, we can actually see dark clouds forming in the background. While England will be happy seeing that, they don't want those conditions to stay on for long. Remember, there is someone called Jasprit Bumrah in the opposition who will just be wanting to get that Dukes ball in his hand. So the focus for the home side would be to not let the tail wag with Jadeja and keep India under 475. The visitors, on the other hand, might just come out after the break and go h

And yes, we have not forgotten England either. They are just about hanging in there in this Test, thanks to that last half hour before Lunch. However, the bowling has looked ordinary, with the exception of Ben Stokes, who has been nothing short of phenomenal, and to some extent, Shoaib Bashir, who has made the ball talk. Chris Woakes has looked way below par while Brydon Carse needs more consistency. Clearly, this is not the bowling attack the hosts would have looked for at the start of the

Ah... no, we have not forgotten the skipper. In his very first Test as a skipper, that too, in overseas conditions, Shubman Gill displayed an innings full of character, with exemplary technique. Barely did we see any loose shot played and what was impressive was the way he handled the conditions. Took time to get set, then opened up after getting set. Then, when the ball was reversing on Day 1, he ensured that England did not get any opening and even this morning, did not just throw it away. A

Rishabh Rajendra Pant. This guy is special, isn't he? And how poor is our memory? Just around 3 weeks back, the fans were into Pant's skin, who was arguably having one of his worst IPL seasons ever. And captaincy duties seemed to be taking toll on him. However, change of ball, change of format, change of venue and change of clothing has changed his luck as he played one of his best Test innings ever. Of course, in terms of the match situation, cannot match his 97 against Australia in Sydney in 2

This is the beauty of Test cricket. For nearly 90 minutes into the day, England looked lost, not at all consistent with their bowling, dishing out some pretty loose stuff. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant seemed pretty comfortable at the crease, with the latter going on the attack. Then, on a really innocuous delivery, Gill lost his wicket and all of a sudden, a collapse ensued, which also consumed Pant, who was arguably asked to slow down minutes before his dismissal.

What a manic half an hour. The session reads 95 runs for 4 wickets in 23.4 overs but let's look at it in isolation. The first 16.4 overs, India scored 71/0. The last 7 overs, England picked up 4/24! So whose session was it? Let's call it balanced though the hosts have got some momentum on their side.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, ! EDGED AND GONE! Ben Stokes with a wicket right on the stroke of Lunch once again and India are going down in a hurry.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, Bowled on a length and wide outside off, swinging back in, Shardul shoulders arms.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, Brings out the full and wide one, but bowls a low full toss that just dips on the batter. Thakur, with no foot movement, just tris to drive and gets an inside edge down towards the keeper.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, Good-length delivery, in the channel, zipping away late, Tahkur makes a leave.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, NOT ! Good energy in the field from Brydon Carse but Shardul Thakur escapes.

Direct hit! England are confident, but so is Shardul Thakur that he has made his ground. Referred upstairs. Sure enough, one replay is enough to confirm that Shardul is well in.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, Oh, that's gone a long way! Bumper from Tongue, banged in around off and Shardul Thakur ducks under it but the ball finishes well down the leg side and Jamie Smith does well to pouch it well to his left.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, Back of a length and outside off, left alone by Thakur.

It seems like we shall be playing till the clock strikes 1 pm at Headingley. Around 4 minutes left for Lunch, but Shardul Thakur is forced to walk out to bat, to play these last few minutes before the break, replacing Rishabh Pant.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, No run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, ! LBW! Tongue stays around the wicket and hones in on that good length again, but thistime, he bowls it outside off and gets the ball to jag back in sharply. Pant hops across and tries to leave but the ball pings him on the pads. There is a  huge appeal, and given! A big miscalculation from Rishabh Pant and that could be catastrophic. Pant has a long chat with Ravindra Jadeja and does review it, he simply has to review it. The third umpire is called in a

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Around the wicket, bowling it on a hard length and angling it into the pads. Pant looks to tuck it away but misses and gets in the gap between the pad and thigh pad. That will sting a bit.

Ben Stokes to Ravindra Jadeja, Full and straight, defended solidly. Another eventful over.

Ben Stokes to Ravindra Jadeja, On a good length, outside off, jags back in sharply, probably hitting a rough patch, Jadeja looks to defend but the ball shoots up sharply and catches him on the glove.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

At the end of the last over, a message was seen coming out from the Indian dressing room. With Lunch around the corner, one suspects that it might have been along the lines of staying calm till the break, particularly Pant. India are in a very good position, but you don't want to get England into the game by playing some loose shots and losing momentum. The attack can continue post Lunch. But if Pant were to fall now, to his own folly, the hosts might just get a look in.

Ben Stokes to Ravindra Jadeja, Pope flies again! This time though, the ball does not stick in his hands.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Rishabh Pant now has 7 centuries in Test cricket - the most by an Indian wicketkeeper, going past MS Dhoni's 6. He has also gone past Dhoni's 78 sixes in Tests, which means Pant's 79 sixes are the most by a designated Indian wicketkeeper. Overall, Adam Gilchrist leads the pack, with 100 sixes as a wicketkeeper. Amongst Indian players, Pant now stands third in the list of sixes, behind Rohit Sharma (88) and Virender Sehwag (90).

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a good length, outside off, Rishabh Pant pushes inside the line and is beaten.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, On a length, just outside off, RP taps it towards cover and takes a quick single. And tell you what, one of his boots come off!

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Around off, pushed towards cover.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Down the leg side, once again Rishabh falls over but manages to clip it towards square leg.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, A mild LBW appeal, but nothing much in it.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, Full and straight, Ravindra Jadeja pushes it down the ground for a single to get off the mark.

Ravindra Jadeja walks in next at number 7, replacing Karun Nair. Meanwhile, it is Rishabh Pant getting some attention on his lower back. Wonder whether his cartwheeling celebration on his century has got to do something with this. Right all set now, as Josh Tongue gets back to bowl. 16-0-75-0 so far.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Oh my. Full and straight, from around the wicket, Rishabh Pant gets down and across and looks to play the lap shot. But gets it off the bottom of the bat through mid-wicket, for a single.

Ben Stokes to Karun Nair, ! CAUGHT! That is a spectacular catch and it is a heartbreak for Nair on comeback. For the second time in two days, a new batter comes with a few minutes to the break and loses his wicket. But while this is Stokes' third wicket, the credit has to go to the fielder, Ollie Pope. Full and wide outside off, there to be driven. Karun Nair goes hard on the drive through the covers and does not bother to keep it down. It seems like he has got enough elevation but P

Ben Stokes to Karun Nair, Down the leg side, Nair cannot get it away.

Ben Stokes to Karun Nair, Nearly a wicket! On a length, outside off, Karun Nair looks to defend but the ball hits the bottom part of the bat and goes back. Bounces over the stumps!

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, A short ball, outside off, Rishabh punches it through point for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, This one jags back in a long way from around the wicket, Pant is watchful and defends at the last moment.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, ! WHAM! Total shift of gears from Pant.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, outside off, RP leans and pushes it towards cover for a single. Eventful over, could have had a wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, STUMPING MISSED! More rotten luck for England. Flighted, outside off, Pant jumps down the track again and looks to go big, but is not to the pitch of the ball. Misses it totally and in that process, loses control of his bat as well. 

The cloud cover has been building steadily and because of that, the ball has started to move a bit now. There is the forecast of the thunderstorm looming around Lunch time and the atmosphere just about feels a bit heavy.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! WHACK! There goes Pant again! Full, around middle and off, Rishabh Pant gets down on a knee and sweeps it powerfully over square leg! Moves to 124 with his 6th six.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, A short ball now, outside off, carved away to Zak Crawley at sweeper cover, for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, ! WALLOP! Too full by Stokes, nearly overpitched and he gets punished. Outside off, Rishabh Pant powers this down the ground, to the left of mid off.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full, outside off, swinging away, RP shoulders arms.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a good length, outside off, Rishabh punches it straight to point.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, outside off, this time Pant meets the ball, pushing it towards cover.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Karun Nair, No run.

More misery for the England. The last time this man played against them, he scored a triple century. What's coming up this time? Karun Nair walks in at number 6, replacing his skipper, Shubman Gill.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, ! CAUGHT! A wicket out of nowhere and Gill will have to wait for his maiden Test 150. Finally something to smile for the home side.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Short, outside off, the skipper stays back to block it down the pitch.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Tossed up this time. Full, outside off, Shubman gets down to sweep but misses. The ball spins and bounces, hitting Gill on the right glove, before poping up onto the helmet.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Fired in with the arm, around off, short in length, Gill punches it back to the bowler.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, Shubman Gill lunges across to work it away but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full and straight, Rishabh pushes it towards mid off.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around off, Pant swings hard but mistimes it towards mid on. Seems like he is going to go after every delivery now.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Very full, on middle, Gill flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, A wild bouncer, outside off, Shubman Gill lets it pass.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, punched through the covers for a couple.

Opportunities missed? Or sheer consistency? This is the 7th time that Rishabh Pant has reached the century mark in Tests but 14th time that he has touched the 90-mark!

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full, outside off, Rishabh Pant pushes it through the covers for a quick single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted again, around off, Gill leans on to block.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! Rishabh Pant was almost undone there but he does get the six in the end.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Fired in this time, around middle, Pant presents a dead bat at it.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! Rishabh Pant brings up his HUNDRED in the most Pant style possible and he even does a cartwheel to celebrate it. This is tossed up on the stumps, Pant skips down the pitch and heaves across the line, one hand comes off the handle but the ball sails over the fence in front of deep mid-wicket and that is a sensational century. His 7th in Test matches, 4th one against England. Will he now let loose completely?

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Length again, around the top of off, punched away towards cover.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Ooh, extra bounce and nearly carried to Ben Duckett! Ben Stokes hits the hard length and bowls it around off, the ball wobbles away with extra bounce, catching Gill by surprise. The ball takes the shoulder of the blade and lobs short of gully.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Pitched up full and on off, trying to dart it back in, Gill shows the full face of the blade and pushes it straight back past the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, On a good length and outside off, Gill gets a stride across and leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Stokes does go for it! That dipping full toss from Day 1 and even the on-air commentators called it. Slower one, bowled very full on off, but it dips and dips late on the batter. Pant manages to maneuver it away through covers for a single and moves to 99.

DRINKS BREAK. Perfect time for Harry Brook to rush off the field and check whether he has got any swelling or not. The English players are laughing but that was definitely not funny. Even the Indian players look worried in their balcony. Coming to the game, another average hour for England. 53 runs in 13 effortless overs, without any wicket. Without needing to do much work, India are comfortably rolling along, having scored at around 4 runs an over this hour and it just seems like the hosts ar

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Fuller in length, bowled in the channel, Pant watches it all the way and makes the leave.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Oh, deary me! Grip and turn for Shoaib Bashir but it is Harry Brook who is caught in the firing line. Tossed up around off, not all that full. Rishabh Pant leans on to block but the ball turns and takes the outside edge, going down and wide of first slip. The batters look for the single and Ben Duckett picks up the ball running to his right from backward point. He has a shy at the keeper's end but ends up hitting Brook, who is going off the field.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Slower through the air, on a length and drifting into middle and leg, Gill tucks it across to the leg side agan.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted again, this time a smidge fuller and closer to the off pole, Gill prods and nudges it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Nicely flighted, outside off, Gill lunges and blocks it off with soft hands.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Good follow-up delivery from Stokes! Nagging length in the channel, seaming away off the deck as well, Gill makes a watchful leave.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, ! Glorious but it was begging to be hit!

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On the fuller side and pretty straight, Pant leans on and flicks it right off the stumps behind square leg for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Hard length angled in from around middle, Pant pushes it down into the leg side for another dot ball.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Oh, well bowled!

England need some inspiration and once again, skipper Ben Stokes is forced to take the ball. The best of the bowlers on Day 1, the only one looking threatening. 13-1-43-2 so far.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Good length, in the channel, just slanting away, Rishabh Pant shoulders arms at it.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Shorter ine length, quicker too and fired into middle and leg, Pant pulls it off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! Wasn't even that short!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Nagging length on off and middle, Pant blocks it off the back foot.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Is the weather changing? Out of nowhere, the conditions have become cloudy. Not overcast as of yet, but a few clouds have hid the sun beneath them. Stuart Broad on air, mentioned this morning that there is a forecast of thundershowers around Lunch time, that is 5.30 pm IST (1200 GMT). Spin for the first time this morning. Here comes Shoaib Bashir. 21-4-66-0 so far.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! The falling lap sweep, a Rishabh Pant special. Tossed up on off, Pant attacks the off-spinner right away by shuffling across and lapping it over the leg slip fielder to find the fence.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Good length in the channel outside off, seaming away slightly, tapped away towards cover-point by Gill. Not the bests of overs, but a maiden for Woakes nonetheless.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Better! Fuller and just around off stump, making Gill play at it. Gill leans on and blocks it off.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, The wheels have come off for Woakes, it seems. Another length ball, well outside off, and going further away. Gill makes another easy leave.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Oh dear.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller, outside off, Shubman Gill leans into the drive and connects well but cannot get it past mid off to his left.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, left alone.

Talking about centuries, England have got one as well. Chris Woakes has become the first to make an entry in that column, having conceded 103 runs in 23 overs.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Good length around leg, sliding on, Rishabh Pant decides to make a leave and the ball thuds the pads before rolling to the on side.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Short of a good length, angling across middle, Pant hops to the off side and nudges it across in front of square leg.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, A quick bumper now, right at the batter, Pant ducks under it.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Down the leg side, Rishabh gets across and tucks it towards short mid-wicket.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Better line. On a length, just around off, Pant pushes at it but misses.

Trouble? Not sure. Shubman Gill has removed his helmet and the gloves. No idea what was that for, because we did not see anyone coming in to give him tablets. On Day 1, Gill took a couple of massages on his lower back.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, ! VIOLENCE!

Compared to Day 1, we are seeing much tighter fields this morning. But the lines have not been all that consistent.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Piling on the misery here, Shubman Gill. Shortish length and outside off, Gill stays back in his crease and gives the ball a tap on the head, guiding it wide of the slip cordon and into the deep third fence.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No ball! Short of a length and outside off, Gill stays back and plays it with the away movement down to the slip cordon. Woakes has overstepped again, he's just not been his old self thus far in this game.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Length ball on the pads, tucked away behind square leg for an easy single.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, NO BALL! Back of a length and outside off, punched off the back foot towards point where the fielder makes a sharp stop. Woakes has overstepped and the third umpire calls a no ball.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Length ball around middle, swinging well across the left-hander, left alone by Pant.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, A length ball, down the leg side, Rishabh Pant tickles it behind square leg. Shoaib Bashir charges onto the ball from the deep and gets to the ball, but while picking it up, takes his eyes off the ball. The batters take the second on the fumble.

Pant has hit 23 sixes against England in Test cricket, the most by him against any team in this format.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Hard length in the channel, Gill stays upright and punches it down into the off side.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Crawley gets a good hand on that one and stops a certain boundary. Short and wide, Shubman Gill reaches out and plays a half-punch square on the off side. The ball rockets to the left of point where Crawley dives and the ball still almost goes through to the fence. Two taken.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Carse continues on a shorter length and bowls it around the rib cage, Pant gets it away down to long leg and turns the strike over.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, A short ball now, Shubman Gill plays a short-arm jab through mid-wicket for a run.

Spark of interest? Definitely not here. England have already become like a team going through the motions. The bowlers are just coming in and putting it out there and it is just all too easy for India at the moment. But there is some spark of interest in Galle. Bangladesh have managed to nip out both the Lankan openers and at Tea on Day 5, Sri Lanka are 34/2, trying to chase down 296. 29 overs left in the day. Can Bangladesh pick up 4-5 wickets and end the match on a high?

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Similar length, on a tighter line around off, Shubman Gill leans right ahead and blocks it back to the bowler. A bit more control shown here by Woakes now.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Pitches this one up outside off, Gill lunges and pushes it away towards cover.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Hard length on off, this one angles back in, Gill just gets inside the line and tucks it to the leg side.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Back of a length, outside off, Shubman Gill defends it down the pitch.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Slightly shorter than the previous one, angling away, Pant steers it behind point for a single.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Full, around middle and off, Rishabh Pant lunges to defend.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Another short ball, another cut, straight to point again!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, WIDE. Maybe Carse saw Pant come down the track and hence, dug it in short. But it is way too short and goes well over the head of the batter.

Rishabh Pant has scored 5 fifties and 3 hundreds against England in Test cricket, the most 50-plus scores by him against any team.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, ! Lovely shot.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, another solid block from the Indian captain. The first maiden of the day.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a good length, around off, Shubman pushes it towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, worked towards short mid-wicket.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, pushed towards point.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller, just outside off, Gill gets a good stride to block.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, Shubman Gill offers a frontfoot defense towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Full, just outside off, RP looks to defend but the ball nips away to beat the outside edge. Just as we say typical Pant, that is typical Carse. Two really good deliveries, two normal deliveries and two really ordinary deliveries. The day he gets consistency in his bowling, he will be a bowler to behold.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Around leg stump, short of full, Rishabh hops to keep it out to the leg side.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around off, pushed towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Four!

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, down the leg side, Pant cannot get it away.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Oh wow. That is Rishabh Pant for you. A length ball, around middle and leg, Pant jumps down the track and swings wildly. Gets a thick inside edge but it goes over the stumps and bounces just in front of the keeper, Jamie Smith.

A disappointing start from Chris Woakes.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and just outside off, a good solid block from the skipper.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Outside off, on a length, punched towards point.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Ben Duckett is called at short extra cover but Woakes dishes out a floaty half volley on the pads. He is lucky to get away with it as Shubman flicks but short mid-wicket dives to his left to stop the ball.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! GLORIOUS! A bit of a loosener from Woakes and it has been put away with sheer class.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

England may not be overly buzzing but their fans certainly here.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, outside off, curving in late, RP shoulders arms and the ball carries at a good height to the keeper.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Ahhh... this one stays slightly low.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Slightly around middle and off, similar length, Pant lets it go.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around leg, angling away, Rishabh Pant drops it down near his feet.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, The first run of the day comes on the very first ball. A short ball, outside off, Shubman Gill gets inside the line and hooks it towards long leg for a single.

All set for Day 2 to begin! The overnight batters punch their fists and stride out to the middle. England make their way out to the middle and have to admit, don't look overly buzzing. But if they have make any sort of a comeback in this series, it has to be this session and in more likelihood, this opening hour. Brydon Carse to start off to Shubman Gill for the day.

As we wait for the first ball of the day to be bowled, let's travel a bit around the world and check what's happening elsewhere. We have come down to the fourth innings of a rather meandering opening Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, where the Lankans have been set a rather improbable target of 296 in roughly around 37 overs. Highly unlikely that either team will end up winning, with Bangladesh's declaration coming primarily to give their bowlers a run. Amidst the gloom of a draw,

PITCH REPORT - Former Indian stumper DEEP DASGUPTA observes the deck. Looking at the pitch, Dasgupta feels that there is no change from yesterday. Does not spot any ball marks and not much footmarks either. But reckons that the colour of the pitch has changed, as it was a lot greener last morning, while today it is much browner. Deep adds that this colour change means that it will get better to bat and with the sun out, the batters will feast. However, cautioning against some grey skies later in

Let's now have a look at what Indian opener and centurion, Yashasvi Jaiswal had to say to one of the broadcasters at the end of Day 1. Jaiswal says that they all did a good job and it was amazing to go out there and bat and enjoy the English summer. Adds that he just tries to be himself and do his job. Mentions that they had good practice sessions and matches and tried to keep things simple. On Shubman Gill, he says that the way he played was great to watch and he seemed composed.

Surprise, surprise! The live visuals from the ground show that it is a bright and sunny morning at Headingley to begin with. Given the weather forecast, there shouldn't be any disruption in the opening session but in the afternoon, things might change. Let's hope that things remain bright throughout the day and we can get a full day of play in. Stick around as our build-up to the start of Day 2 continues.

For India, the focus will be on extending their formidable total as much as possible, with Gill and Pant looking to build on their strong partnership. Rishabh Pant, in particular, will be eyeing a big score after surpassing his fifty late on Day 1. England, on the other hand, will rely on their pace attack, especially with the potential for more helpful conditions, to rip through the Indian lower order quickly. The battle between India's well-set batters and England's rejuvenated bowlers, under

England's bowlers toiled hard on a relatively flat pitch, managing only three wickets, with Ben Stokes being the pick of the attack. The hosts will be desperate for early breakthroughs on Saturday to prevent India from piling on an even bigger first-innings total. However, the weather forecast for Day 2 at Headingley introduces a significant variable. While Day 1 enjoyed clear skies, Saturday is expected to be gloomier, with a high probability of rain and thunderstorms, particularly in the afte

Hello and a warm welcome to Headingley in Leeds for Day 2 of the 1st Test between England and India. Day 2 is poised to be a crucial one, with India firmly in the driver's seat after a dominant opening day. Captain Shubman Gill's magnificent unbeaten century, coupled with another fine ton from Yashasvi Jaiswal and a gritty half-century from Rishabh Pant, saw India reach a commanding 359/3 at stumps.

... DAY 2, SESSION 1 ...

Just to recap the first day, Ben Stokes opted to bowl first on a sunny day in Leeds, sticking to the norm but with the sun being out for the past few days and no rain, the purchase pacers generally get in the first session wasn't quite there. The English bowlers didn't help themselves either and we rarely saw wicket-taking opportunities being created. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal looked in the correct mindset from the get-go and made sure India got through that crucial first hour unscathed.

A total of 144 runs were scored in that final session in 34 overs, with just one wicket falling, showcasing to an extent the vulnerability of the current English attack, but also the conditions which were contrasting to the ones we generally find at Headingley on Day 1 of a Test match. Shoaib Bashir toiled hard from one end but the pacers simply couldn't make inroads, and there just weren't enough edges that were found. Josh Tongue, in particular, showed his inexperience but Woakes did get bett

A final session that England would have thought about winning, especially once Ben Stokes knocked over the centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal right after Tea, but it wasn't meant to be. The Indian skipper, Shubman Gill, already set, was on a mission and he took complete control once Jaiswal departed. Rishabh Pant has a positive record in England and even after a tough stint in the recent Indian T20 League, Pant was close to his best in red-ball cricket. The two attacked early on but took a step ba

A day that belonged to India, something which not many would have been sure of coming into this 1st Test with the retirement of a couple of batting stalwarts and the captaincy change but it seems like England have found it tougher to replace their fabled pacer James Anderson and the injured duo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, which a talented batting has just exploited.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, From the book of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Woakes lands this outside off and Pant brings his bat down to defend, AFTER the ball goes past.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Full, around leg stump, Pant nearly sweeps this towards deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Landed outside off, steered straight to point.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Six!

One more over? Ben Stokes is seen hurrying everyone around, trying to get one more over and one more wicket before close. His first wish is granted as we will have another over as the clock just about ticks at 6.30 pm local, but the players are already at their positions, so we will have this over. Whether he gets his second wish or not, is something time will tell.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, A beauty to end the over.

Carse is trying his level best to make this the last over of the day. There are still two minutes left on the clock. Might have one more over from the other end.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, Gill plays inside the line as the ball comes in with the angle.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, coming in with the angle but nipping away off the seam, Shubman pushes it towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, A short ball, around off, Shubman Gill defends it towards cover.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Outside off, drives to deep point for a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, Shubman shows the full face of the bat and pushes it towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, Gill looks to defend but gets it off the inner half of the bat towards square leg.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, driven straight to cover.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Four!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No ball!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Short again, outside off, this is punched in front of deep point for a couple.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Four!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Howzzat? Woakes wants the LBW, Smith wants the catch. The umpire gives neither. Bowler and keeper look in unison towards the skipper, who shakes his head. Worth a review, surely?

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, Gill gets across and works it through square leg for a single. Woakes is ready to take his cap back but umpire Gaffaney stops him. The third umpire is in his ear and informs that Woakes has overstepped. NO BALL!

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full, around off, from a bit wide of the crease, angling it in, Shubman Gill gets across and pushes it towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, A short ball, around off, dropped towards point for a single.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around off, angling away, Rishabh plays inside the line and gets beaten.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, ! Oh my word! What was that? Well, Pant can have a laugh about it now but this could have been a very different mood had this not met the bat.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around middle, Rishabh Pant gets across and defends.

The second new ball is available now. And without any delay, Ben Stokes takes it. Chris Woakes will make the first use of it. 16-2-73-0 so far. Around 20 minutes left for Stumps in this extended period of play, but if India get any loose balls, they will not think twice before going hard at it. This new ball will definitely be quicker and move around, but it is also a double-edged sword as if the bowlers don't get it right, it will travel.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Fuller in length this time, blocked off the front foot.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Flatter delivery on middle and leg, tucked away into the leg side for a run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, A bit slower and straighter, drifting in from middle, Pant watchful keepsit out.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Pant has scored 2 Test centuries in England, the most by him in any away country.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A quick and sharp bumper now, over the batter's front shoulder. Gill leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, ! Makes room and finds the gap! Not all that short and angled in from middle, Gill backs away and the ball doesn't rise up much, allowing Gill to smack it away through covers for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A slower-ball bumper now from Tongue, bowled in and around the helmet, Gill slightly ducks under it.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, A duck and a pull, all at the same time, that's Rishabh Pant for you. Short again over middle, Pant looks to duck but knows he can't, so he just swats it at the last moment towards deep backward square leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Short ball over middle and leg, Gill stands tall and plays a controlled pull through backward square leg for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Dragged length on middle and leg, Gill advances and flicks it to the right of mid-wicket for an easy single to end the over.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Fuller one at the stumps, clipped away to mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Marginally short and wide, cut away in front of square on the off side for a run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Tossed up, wide outside off, Pant gets his front leg across and makes a leave.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Flighted up, on a length around off, drifting away a touch as well. Pant blocks it off.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Short of a length, at the bodyline, Pant moves inside the line and goes hard at the pull, mistiming it down to long leg only for a single.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, The ball becoming softer and the bounce on this occasion proves it. Banged in short again over middle and leg, angling in, Pant ducks but the ball barely goes over him.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, The 100-run stand is up between these two with this single. Gill, expecting the short ball, backs away to open the off side but the bowler follows him with the short ball. Gill ends up just jabbing it in front of square leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Oh, you can almost hear Sunil Gavaskar's epic commentary not too long ago in Australia, when Pant played a similar shot and got out. Banged in on a hard length and over the stumps, Rishabh Pant shuffles past the off stump and plays the falling lap, only to miss it completely.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Short ball, banged in over middle, Shubman Gill with a short-arm jab in front of square leg and he picks up a single. A 6-3 leg side field for him now, we shall see plenty more of the short stuff from Josh Tongue to Gill.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

6th Test century for Shubman Gill then. His first as a captain, in his very first inning. It is also his first century in the first innings of a Test. Out of his 6 tons, England have been equal partners, conceding three.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 4 Leg byes.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Six!

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Four!

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

India have had a rough away record, winning just one Test series since 2022, against Bangladesh.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Six!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Four!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Slower through the air, given a bit of air, turning away, outside off, Rishabh Pant shoulders his arms to that one.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Full, on middle, driven down the ground for a run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Around middle, patted down the ground.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Four!

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Outside off, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Ooohhh... nearly holes out!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! THUNDEROUS! Pant finally gets one away, after itching for an age to get after Bashir. Short, around off, Pant rocks back and heaves it through mid-wicket for his third boundary. The stand moves to 61.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, A touch short, around middle, Rishabh Pant defends.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A short ball, around off, defended towards cover.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, shaping in, Shubman Gill defends it watchfully towards point.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Again, misdirected down the leg side, unless this is a deliberate attempt to try and get Pant caught down the leg side. Rishabh whips it towards deep backward square leg for a run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Further down the leg side, Pant looks to tuck but misses again. Suspect the ball brushed his pad on its way to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, On a length, down the leg side, Rishabh Pant misses his tuck and is hit on the pads.

Shubman Gill has played 3 Test Matches in England, 2 of which were WTC Finals, but hasn't played up to his reputation yet. He has scored a meagerly 88 runs, averaging just 14.7, with a highest of 28. Josh Tongue returns. 11-0-45-0 so far. He has been quick today, but not necessarily got his radar right.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A short ball, around off, Shubman Gill pulls it through square leg for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full and straight, Rishabh defends.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Around middle and leg, Pant works it towards square leg.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full, around off, Rishabh Pant lunges to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Shortish, around off, whipped straight to short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Shorter and quicker, around middle and off, 94 kph, Gill works it through square leg for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. Finally, an hour of play where we have seen good balance between bat and ball. England have got the ball to reverse which has kept the Indians honest and they have not attempted much flashy strokes. If any, the attack has firmly been against the off spinner but even there, Shoaib Bashir has done well to not be blown away. The session started with a wicket in the second over and then a blitzy shot from Pant for his first boundary, but after that, he has been pretty much circumspec

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, Shubman Gill defends.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Landed outside off, pushed towards cover-point.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, ! Educated edge, they say. What does that actually mean?

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Rishabhh Pant has performed well in England, with even his first Test century coming in this country, in 2018. Prior to this match, Pant had amassed 556 runs at a healthy average of 32.7.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, In the air... safe! 50-RUN STAND! The third one of the innings.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full and around leg stump, Rishabh lunges to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Outside off, a touch short, 93 kph, Shubman Gill goes back and works it through the covers for a run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Outside off, punched down to long on for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Short, around off, Rishabh Pant punches it through point. The ball races through the outfield and once again, Josh Tongue puts in a bizarre effort.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Before this match, Gill had scored 592 runs against England in Tests, the most by him against any team in this format. His 3 fifties and 2 hundreds against this team is also the most by him against any other.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Outside off, Pant steers it through point for a run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No ball!

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Full, outside off, coming in but shaping away, left alone.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Bye.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Around off, watchfully defended.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Change of angle, from around the wicket, fuller in length, on middle and leg, hint of inward shape, Rishabh Pant flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Hmmm... just before the start of the 61st over, Rishabh Pant was seen telling Shubman Gill, 'BALL ABHI BAN RAHA HAI'.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, A touch quicker, and fuller, Gill eases the drive to short cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Slower and shorter outside off, slapped away to the left of sweeper cover for a couple of runs by Shubman Gill.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, A bit quicker and shorter around off, Gill waits back and taps it wide of first slip.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Oh, sloppy from the skipper! Shorter in length and outside off, Pant rocks back and punches it to covers where Ben Stokes doesn't get down low to his right and lets it through his hands for a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Goes wider on the crease and bowls it full on middle, trying to really angle it in. Gill shows the full face of the bat and punches it to mid on.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Around the wicket to the left-hander, bowling it full and on off, Pant squeezes it away behind point and picks up a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball on off, hitting the deck this time, rather than just kissing the deck. Gill gets it off the inside edge and in front of square leg for a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Pitches it a bit further up and on off, trying to swing it away. Gill drives it firmly but straight to mid off.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller in length and around off, shaping away a touch, blocked solidly off the front foot.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Shubman Gill making his intentions clear.

There's the bowling change. Chris Woakes (13-2-60-0) comes back into the attack.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Would you believe it? Rishabh Pant plays out a maiden over against spin, that too without even going after a single delivery. This is tossed up full and straight, Pant nudges it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, On the shorter side and around off, Pant lets the ball come on and plays a late dab past the keeper and first slip. 

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Pushed through a tad quicker now and on off, Pant blocks it off again. 

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Nagging length outside off, Pant watches it well and leaves it alone.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Floated up on the fourth stump line, Rishabh Pant gets well forward and blocks it off.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Hard length, on off, straightening down the line a touch, blocked from the crease. A slight confusion there, probably checking the front foot no ball or maybe the umpire wasn't sure if there's one more delivery left in the over. It is a fair delivery and the last one of the over.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Full and wide, Stokes gets the ball reversing back into the batter, but Gill crunches the cover drive straight to the short cover fielder.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, ! Erring in line, easy pickings for Shubman Gill. Short of a good length, on middle and leg, this one slides on and Gill just tickles it down to fine leg for a boundary. Gill moves into the 80s now.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Wide! Too high!

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Good length, around the top of off, defended down the pitch by Gill.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Good-length delivery, angling down the leg side, keeps moving after passing the batter. Jamie Smith dives to his left and pouches it well.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Stokes continues and bowls this one well short and outside off, Rishabh Pant leans back and toe-ends the pull in front of mid-wicket for one.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Darted in at the stumps, on off, Gill defends it off.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, ! Picked up and dispatched! Tossed up too full and on middle, Shubman Gill with a stylish hoick, using the wrists to hammer it wide of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flatter one,l trying to dart it across the batter, Gill blocks it off the front foot.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted, not all that full and turning in from off, Gill lunges and tucks it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, This one is tossed up outside off, SG advances and drives it straight to short extra cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Around the wicket now to Gill. This is flighted up slower and around off, Gill leans on to block.

Change? No, Shoaib Bashir to continue, but Ben Stokes is seen rehydrating, which might suggest a change from the other end.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, slanting the ball back in from outside off, Pant leaves the ball on line.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Shorter one at the batter, Shubman Gill just gets insde the line and angles the pull down to deep backward square leg for one.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Length ball again and around off, tapped away straight to covers.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Rishabh Pant passing on a piece of intelligence to his skipper.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, From round the wicket, shorter on middle, Gill works it off the back foot, behind square for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Length ball angling in on middle, Gill looks to block it. The ball takes the inside half of the bat and goes towards deep fine leg for a single.

Chris Woakes in now seen loosening up. Perhaps, the swing Ben Stokes is getting, is what might force a bowling change.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, A touch quicker and fuller, off break. Rishabh got tricked by the quick delivery. He was in two minds whether to play at it or leave it, as he wasn't sure of the line of that delivery. Eventually he leaves it alone. That went just past the off stump.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full on off, Gill eases the drive to long on for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full and just outside off, given a lot of air, Gill drills the drive to short cover. Ahh, perhaps he wanted a piece of that, but couldn't find the gap.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted delivery on middle, Gill plays the push to mid on.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Under Ben Stokes, England have won 20 out of their 33 Tests and crucially, drawn just 1, amounting to a success rate of nearly 61 percent. He has the best win percentage among all players who have captained the English team for more than 30 Tests.

There we go again. Umpire Chris Gaffaney walks down the pitch to check where Ben Stokes is ending up in his followthrough. No warning as of now.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Full and well outside off, Shubman Gill looks to reach out for it, but eventually doesn't offer a shot.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Back of a length on middle, Rishabh works it off the crease towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Pace off delivery, that ends up in a full toss but it dips on Rishabh as it arrives. Rishabh is surprised by it and eventually somehow manages to get his bat down in time. 

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 2 runs.

Stuart Broad on air observes a big gap between the keeper, Jamie Smith and the fielder at first slip, Harry Brook. Broad opines that it is very unusual to see such a big gap, as the edges usually carry well behind to the cordon. Perhaps, Broad thinks, that maybe, Smith might be comfortable of putting in a big dive, if needed and hence, wants Brook to stand a bit further apart.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full and well outside off, Rishabh Pant doesn't bother playing at it.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Short ball on leg, Shubman Gill plays the pull along the ground to deep fine leg for a single.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, just around off, Gill looks to tap and run towards the on side but changes his mind and sends Pant back.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, on middle, Rishabh Pant works it through mid on for a run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Interestingly, Gill seemingly bats well in the second and third innings but struggles when he gets to bat in the first and fourth. All his Test Hundreds have come when he has batted in the second or third innings. Given that 2025 is a year for changes and Gill has already crossed 60, time for his first Test hundred in the first inning, perhaps?

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Tossed up, off break, well outside off, turning away from the left hander. Rishabh again lets it go.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full again, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Slower through the air, around middle, Pant works it towards short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full, on middle and leg, Rishabh Pant drives it back to the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Length ball on middle, Rishabh Pant works it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single to keep the strike. 

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, ! Rishabh Pant is off and running in the most Rishabh Pant way! Full on off, Rishabh Pant skips down the track and hit it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Rishabh Pant walks out next at number 5, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! BOWLED! Midas O Midas, where art thou? England needed a wicket desperately and Ben MIDAS Stokes has delivered!

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Banged in short, around off, Jaiswal punches it towards cover this time.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, around off, angling away, Yashasvi Jaiswal defends it towards point.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short on off, Jaiswal cuts it off the backfoot to point for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, ! Cut away!

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Outside off, spinning in, Gill lunges to keep it out.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, Shubman Gill defends.

The players slowly make their way out to the middle. One suspects Shoaib Bashir will have to bowl a lot in this session.

... DAY 1, FINAL SESSION ...

If the first session was poor, the second session was worse for England. The pitch being flat and the Dukes ball getting softer can be excuses for the ball not beating the bat - but can never count for not bowling well. Not a single bowler could land the ball consistently in one area and as a result, skipper Ben Stokes seemed to be short of ideas, as he was forced to keep players at the boundary, to cut out the boundaries. And to make matters worse for him, there wasn't any opportunity created

This session has belonged to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Out of India's 123 runs, Jaiswal has scored 58 runs. He started off slowly post Lunch but once he go into his groove, he just played stunning strokes. There was a bit of worry in the Indian camp when he started to cramp but that can happen in humid conditions. At the other end, he found a lovely partner in Gill, who just seems so strong even against the moving ball. The skipper is batting with a strike rate close to 80, and this stand of 123 in a s

India's legends would be brimming with pride looking at the ages mentioned in the previous para. The trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan easily have more than a decade to play and one can just imagine those early 2000s, where the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman used to score hundreds for fun. Not to forget, Rishabh Pant is just 27! So this is a young but strong Indian unit, ready to create an era of their own. Ever since the retirement of Tendulkar

123/0 in 25.2 overs. Phenomenal session for India. They were probably hurt by the late wickets before Lunch and with the conditions getting overcast, things were expected to get difficult in the afternoon session. But a youngster aged 23 and a skipper aged 25 - have taken the bull by the horns and dictated the session on their own terms.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, FIVE PENALTY RUNS!

5 Penalty runs awarded to India.

Has that hit the helmet? Indeed it has! The umpire is just confirming with the third umpire. There is a slight delay as the third umpire is confirming whether the single was completed before the ball hit the helmet. As per the replay, don't think the batters crossed. So the single will be denied and Jaiswal will be back on strike, with the team awarded 5 penalty runs.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short ball, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, angling away, left alone.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Around off, this time Gill pinches a single towards mid off.

Yet another terrific knock for the lad from Mumbai. In a score of 100, he has scored 16 fours and a six - meaning, 70 percent of his runs have come through boundaries. At the same time, he has ensured that he is not just attacking but defending well. A truly superb player for the future.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and straight, YJ keeps it out with a lunge.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Action replay of the previous delivery.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full again, this time Yashasvi is fully forward to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On middle and off, Jaiswal comes half forward to block.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, around middle, watchfully defended.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, CENTURY FOR JAISWAL! Yet another country where Jaiswal has announced itself. Century in the West Indies in his maiden outing. Hundred in Australia in his first Test. And now, a ton in just 144 deliveries in his first Test in England, in overcast conditions. Simply brilliant. Congratulations India, your future is secure. Jaiswal gets to his milestone with a simple push beyond point and for that brief moment, forgets his cramp. Does a David Warner, or nearl

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, MORE! 99 now! Overpitched, outside off, Jaiswal leans and drives it beautifully through the covers for consecutive boundaries!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Four!

More problems for Yashasvi Jaiswal. After playing that previous shot, Jaiswal immediately put his bat down and removed his equipment. The pads, gloves etcc come off 

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, Jaiswal looks to drive it on the up but misses.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Cramp or no cramp, Jaiswal has put that away. He is shaking that hand again, but that was pure class. He is really strong through that off side. Back of a length, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal punches it through point and brings up INDIA'S 200 in the 49th over. Jaiswal himself has moved to 91.

Since 2022, England have played 5 series of 3 Tests or more at home and have not lost a single one. They also have the most home wins in Test cricket in this period -  15 wins with a win percentage of 75.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, hint of turn, Shubman Gill gets a big lunge and lets it go.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, short in length, punched through the covers for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and straight, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

A bit of a halt in play. Seems like Yashasvi Jaiswal is cramping up on his hands and has called for the physio. Jaiswal has been out there for more than four hours and the cramp is normal.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Quicker through the air, 89 kph, Jaiswal works it off the inner half towards short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Fuller, around off, Yashasvi Jaiswal lunges to defend.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Fuller, outside off, moving away, left alone.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, coming in, Shubman Gill hops and works it towards short mid-wicket.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, tapped behind point for a couple.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! THUNDEROUS! He has been itching to go after him, hasn't he? Tossed up, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal gives himself a wee bit of room to the leg side and smashes it straight back over the bowler for a boundary down the ground!

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, looped up slowly towards leg stump, Yashasvi Jaiswal lunges to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, That is a beauty. Every now and then, Brydon Carse bowls a jaffa out of nowhere. On a length, outside off, Shubman gets across to defend but fails to counter the inward movement.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, hitting the surface hard, Gill defends.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A short ball, down the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal rises with the bounce and tucks it through fine leg for a single. Moves to 80.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Excellent running. Brydon Carse is brought back into the attack and he starts with a length ball, around off. Shubman Gill punches it through mid on and Ben Stokes gives it a chase from mid off. Gets to the ball and the batters take the third on the throw.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and around leg stump, Jaiswal defends. A rare maiden for England.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, thrown wide, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to hammer it but mistimes it towards cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On middle and leg, YJ defends with a lunge.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Around middle and leg, Jaiswal lunges to defend it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal drives it back to the bowler.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Another short ball, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal arches back and guides it behind point for a run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A bouncer, but way down the leg side, left alone.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, ! 50 FOR GILL! In his very first match as Test captain and that too, in 56 balls!

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A short ball, outside off, Shubman Gill plays the pull off the front foot, but finds one of the two fielders at mid-wicket.

Shubman Gill has also captained India in internationals before; he captained the Indian T20 team for the Zimbabwe Tour in July 2024, where he won 4 out of 5 matches.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Similar ball, this time the skipper corrects himself and drives it down to long on for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, Shubman comes forward and works it straight to short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Similar lin and length, Gill comes half forward to smother the spin.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, pushed back to the bowler.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Around off, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, EDGED, ! Full, outside off, Shubman Gill looks to drive through the covers but the ball comes in with the angle and takes the outside edge. It goes to the left of backward point and Josh Tongue gives it a chase to the ropes and tries to slide and pull it back, but in vain.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! THUMP! If short ball ploy it is, then attack will be the response! A clear-cut message from the young Jaiswal.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A real effort ball. Despite it gone soft, Tongue uses his shoulders and bends his back, generating extra bounce from a short of a length. YJ is surprised by the bounce and fends it awkwardly towards point.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A short ball, around the rib cage, down the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets inside the line and looks to tuck it away but misses. Josh Tongue shows some interest but the keeper denies having heard any noise. Ben Stokes comes up for a chat regarding the review but does not take it eventually. No conviction from anyone.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Already a victory for India. We now have as many as three boundary riders, two on the leg side alone.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Shorter on off, Gill hangs back and pushes it wide of the short cover fielder for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Tossed up, just outside off, Shubman Gill leans forward and blocks it right under his eyes,

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shorter, around middle, Jaiswal stands tall and punches it down the ground for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. 67/0 in 13.2 overs since Lunch. If the first session was poor, this has been nothing short of miserable so far for England. With the Dukes ball getting softer and not generating any movement, the inexperienced bowling attack is just not able to keep the Indians quiet. Not to take anything away from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who have made merry against some really shoddy bowling. And this is despite the conditions being totally overcast, which means, entirely in England'

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Quality shot.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short again, on off, Jaiswal hops on the back foot and guides the ball to the left of gully. Calls for one and eventually completes it comfortably.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Josh Tongue again short, but the line is well down leg, Jaiswal shoulders his arms to it and leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short ball aimed at the body, Jaiswal ducks under it as he lets it go.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A bouncer, on middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal ducks.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

One of the good things with a fast outfield.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Third boundary of the over! Harmless length ball outside off, enough width on offer. Jaiswal cuts it fiercely past point fielder for four.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Another fine shot. This one off the back foot. Result the same as the first ball of this over. Just short of full, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal hangs back, waits for a fraction of a second longer and punches it through point. Once the ball hits the practice wickets, it just races away through this lightning quick outfield. Jaiswal moves to 61 with his 10th boundary and this stand is also worth 61 (73).

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! GORGEOUS!

Yashasvi Jaiswal has a really good record against England in Test cricket. Prior to this Test, he had scored 712 runs against them in 9 innings at an average of 89, including two double centuries. That average is the best by a batter against an opponent in Test cricket since 2024 (Minimum 5 innings).

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Full on off, Shubman Gill drives it off the front foot to the right of mid off, calls for one and completes it comfortably.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Length ball angled in on off, Shubman Gill stays back and plays the push. The ball hits the bottom of the bat and bounces in front of him.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, around middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal tucks it through square leg for a single.

This might be an understatement, but Yashasvi Jaiswal is now stamping his authority across the globe. 

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball shaping away quite a bit, but the line is well outside off. Gill leaves it alone.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Back of a length outside off, Gill stays back and punches it off the back foot, more of a push than a punch. The ball goes in the gap between short cover and point fielder, who runs behind the ball and cuts it off. The batters complete two runs in that process.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, !  FLAMBOYANT! Overpitched, outside off, swinging away, Shubman Gill leans and drives it gloriously to the left of mid off, getting his 6th boundary!

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, around off, Jaiswal punches it through the covers for a single.

Pressure? Or opportunity? Number 4 is a critical position, especially in England, where the batter gets to play the semi-new ball and also the spinners. For India, that position has given them trouble in the past. In the last series against England, Virat Kohli batted at 4 and averaged 27.66 across 9 innings. But in 2018, that average was as high as 64. In the series prior to that, Kohli averaged 13.4 in 2014 while Sachin Tendulkar averaged 37.28 in 2011. So in adversity, lies an opportunity and

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, angling away, Yashasvi Jaiswal shoulders arms.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Back of a length angled in on off, Shubman Gill punches it off the back foot past point and picks up two runs. 

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That will be FIFTY for Yashasvi Jaiswal!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and sliding down leg, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to tickle it fine and gets some bat on it, the ball goes on the bounce to the right of the wicket-keeper, who puts in a good dive and saves potential four runs.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Still on 49! Length ball on off, Jaiswal tries to play it late and open the face of the blade but can't get it past backward point.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No need for that!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched-up delivery, on off and middle, Jaiswal gets onto the front foot and blocks it to silly mid off.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Pleasing to the eyes! Overpitched on middle, Shubman Gill drives it down the ground, presenting the full face of the bat as the ball goes racing along the ground for four.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball angled in a bit, outside off, and shapes away after pitching. Gill leaves it alone.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Delivered from wide of the crease, fuller, on middle leg, Shubman Gill flicks it soft hands towards mid on and yells out a loud 'NO, NO.'

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Good length, targeting off and middle, blocked off the front foot towards short cover.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Seam-up delivery, pitched up on the fifth stump line and this one nips away nicely. Gill makes a watchful leave.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Short ball on middle, Gill's eyes lit up seeing that length as he goes for the pull, but doesn't get good connection as the ball hits the upper part of his bat and rolls along the ground to deep fine leg. Single, taken.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Angled in a bit, on a fuller length, and straightens after pitching. The line, though, is well outside off. Gill leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short of a length and around off, played off the back foot and just angled down to deep third for a single.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tongue just hasn't hit his mark! Starts the new spell from around the wicket to the left-hander and serves a full toss on middle. Jaiswal clips it away through mid-wicket for a couple of easy runs.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball, moving away, outside off, Gill watches it carefully as he lets it go.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Four!

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Superb stroke! Full and swinging in on off, Shubman Gill skips down the track and drives it down the ground for four.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Oh, that seemed to have straightened, but did it straighten enough?

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Streaky but right in the gap! Good-length delivery, in and around off, the wobble-seam delivery nips away late. Shubman Gill opts to play off the back foot and edges it down with soft hands in between slips and gully for a boundary.

Broady, Broady, Broady!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Length ball on middle, Jaiswal blocks it to mid on.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Back of a length on leg, Shubman Gill stays back and drops it into the ground on the leg side and takes a single.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Length ball on off, Jaiswal blocks it to the right of point and takes a single. Another NO BALL from Brydon Carse!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and swinging in a touch on middle, Jaiswal plays the steer to gully fielder. Ah that was very close to the pads. Jaiswal played it very late. Carse has overstepped and it's a NO BALL!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Half an appeal for LBW, but again, it's going down leg. Nagging length on the pads, shaping in, Jaiswal, for the umpteenth time, plays all around a straight ball and gets hit on the pads.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Back of a length and shaping away from off, Gill stays back and stays compact with punching it away with an angled bat through covers for one. Jaiswal looks for the second but Gill is happy with the single.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 runs.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Similar line, just fractionally short and angled across off. Jaiswal shoulders arms at it.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Just full of a good length and darting it across the left-hander, Jaiswal watches the ball zip past him and through to the keeper.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Too eager there, Jaiswal! Back of a length, over off and middle, YJ drops it besides the pitch on the off side and wants the single. Shubman Gill sends him back quickly.

Jaiswal has scored the most runs among openers in Tests since 2024 and also scored the most 100s among openers in Tests since 2024.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, ! This one does reach the fence.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Short and wide outside off, Gill throws his bat at it and goes for the cut.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, swinging in, Shubman Gill shows exemplary technique and defends solidly.

Another warning.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Back of a length and over middle, Gill gets behind the line and blocks it down the track.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Full and outside off, shaping further away, left alone by SG.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short of a length, darting back in from middle, Jaiswal hops up and jams it into the off side before picking up a quick single.

Might be worth a debate.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, defended solidly.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, moving away off the seam, Gill lets it go.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller, around off, pushed towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Pitches this one right up in the channel around off, begging Gill to drive at it, but Gill gets his front leg across and lets it through.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, A hint of movement there. Good-length delivery, outside off, just curving away a touch. Left alone by SG.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Hard length, banged into the deck and over off, Gill punches it down to mid off.

Meanwhile, in Galle, draw seems to be getting the biggest vote from everywhere.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, 5 runs.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Full and angled into the pads, trying to slip one between bat and pad, Gill flicks it away to square leg.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On the fuller side, slanted in from around off, Gill covers the line and plays it straight back.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, And there is that movement and there is that technique.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Welcome back.

... DAY 1, SESSION 2 ...

Amidst all this, a milestone is on the cusp of getting broken. The catch which Joe Root took to dismiss Rahul was his 209th in Test cricket and he is now just 2 away from becoming the player with the most catches in Tests as a fielder. Rahul Dravid has 210 to his name. And this guy can field anywhere. Give him the helmet and he will come and stand close to the batter. Ask him to stand anywhere, he will take blinders. And with the conditions suddenly getting overcast, he might expect some more s

Talking about England, the seamers were inconsistent with their lines and lengths throughout the session. The inexperience was showing in their bowling, as, apart from skipper Ben Stokes, no one looked threatening. They will do well to admit that they got away with two freebies to get something very fruitful from an otherwise ordinary session. Stokes bowled with purpose and made the ball talk. But even he would not have expected to get a debutant caught down the leg side. Yeah yeah... we all kno

Despite those last 6 balls, India got a massive positive through Yashasvi Jaiswal. Yes, this kid played superbly in Australia against better bowlers but to play against the Kookaburra ball is different and to play against the Dukes ball is totally different. While Rahul was a bit more cautious at his end, Jaiswal was the mixture of caution and aggression, not exactly Bazballing, but doing well to make the bowlers get off their lines and lengths. For example, batting outside the crease and walk

Throughout the session, there was some movement on offer consistently. However, Indian openers negotiated it in a decent manner as they were selective in leaving anything outside off and were going hard at anything overpitched and in their arc. There were a few LBW appeals here and there, but apart from that the Openers didn’t give away anything, before KL played a lose drive and guided one to Root in the first slip. They say one brings two, and that's exactly what happened, as Sai Sudharsa

The 1st session of the newly named Anderson-Tendulkar series is done, and it's safe to say that the series has gotten off to a cracking start. The visitors started well with 91-run opening partnership, but two late blows in the session have allowed England to end the session on a good note.

Ben Stokes to Sai Sudharsan, ! CAUGHT BEHIND! This time there is bat and Midas strikes in the last over before Lunch! Again, not the best of balls to get a wicket but one can understand the nervousness in Sai Sudharsan. Imagine this - you are playing your first Test for your country and are on 0. You then get a juicy half volley, down the leg side. Would you have the heart to let it go or pounce on the opportunity to flick it away and get off the mark?

Ben Stokes to Sai Sudharsan, Appeal for caught behind but the umpire remains unmoved. A nervous start for the debutant. Stokes bowls it on a length and angles it onto the pads, Sai Sudharsan looks to flick it away but misses and the ball goes off the pads. Jamie Smith with a good diving take down to his right.

Ben Stokes to Sai Sudharsan, No run there!

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Drop and run! Hard length around the top of off, Jaiswal pats it down in front of covers and scampers through for a single.

Brydon Carse to Sai Sudharsan, No run.

With around 7 minutes to go for Lunch, Test cap number 357 for India, Sai Sudharsan, walks in at number 3, replacing KL Rahul.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, ! CAUGHT! At long last, England get the opening wicket! A rare mistake from Rahul and it proves to be costly. This seems to be that kind of a pitch where the bowlers might get wickets more because of the batters' mistakes and for the last few minutes now, the hosts have been trying to make the batters play some loose shots.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Full, outside off, swinging away, but pretty wide. Easily left alone.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Bangs it in now and bowls it over middle, getting the ball to angle in with some extra bounce. Rahul hops and does well to just fend it to the on side.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, This one is bowled full and on off, Rahul shows the full face of the bat and blocks it firmly to mid off.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Just back of a lengthy, darted in towards middle, Rahul stays back and blocks it off.

The last 5 Test series results between England and India in England have gone in favour of the home team, with India winning just 1 in 2007. England have won 3 of the last 5 series in the UK with the last one in 2021-22 being a drawn one.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mixup, but safe.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Back of a length, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal punches it straight to gully.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! These two aren't letting the bad balls go unpunished.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bowled full again, this time very straight and Jaiswal punches it back to the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nagging length, pitching on the fourth stump line and just sliding right across. YJ puts his front foot across and leaves it alone.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the best openers in Tests. He is the only opener to have an average of above 50 in Tests since 2024.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, ! FANTASTIC! KL Rahul is in some serious mood as he moves to 42!

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Around off, pushed towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Great stop. Fractionally short, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal goes back and lashes out the cut shot. The fielder at gully springs to his right and gets a hand to it, saving the boundary. Just the single.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Oh, was there an edge? No, there wasn't!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good length, just angling down leg, Jaiswal looks to nudge it fine but misses.

Wow. 9 years!

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, On a length, outside off, moving away, KL shoulders arms.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full, outside off, swinging away, Rahul lunges and takes his bat away.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, On a length, outside off, nips back in sharply, KL Rahul is watchful and pushes it towards gully.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Back of a length and bowled around off, Rahul keeps it down.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Now, a misfield! Ben Stokes targets the pads and slides one in fuller, Jaiswal misses the flick and gets it off the pads to Zak Crawley at leg slip. But Crawley is undone by the bad bounce and lets it through, conceding a leg bye as the keeper goes to collect the ball.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, ! Bread and butter for KL Rahul now. An outswinger, starts on off and moves away, too full and Rahul strokes it on the up through covers and the ball races away to the fence this time.

Jaiswal is known for brute power and has dealt a lot in sixes. He hit 39 sixes in the 2023-25 WTC cycle - the most by any player.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hmm... this seems to be a definite plan now. England have got a leg gully in place and Carse is trying to bowl it down the leg side, aiming to get Jaiswal flick it to that fielder. During India's tour to Australia last year, Mitchell Starc got Jaiswal caught at square leg playing exactly that flick shot. Now, that is another matter, that it was not planned by the Aussies. Full, down the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal flicks it towards long leg for a single.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 4 Leg byes.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Frustrating for Ben Stokes and that is just too full from Brydon Carse. Goes for the yorker again but serves a high full toss around off. Yashasvi Jaiswal thrashes it away in front of point and the ball goes off the practice pitches and into the fence.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Misses out there, does Jaiswal! A juicy full toss on middle and off, Jaiswal looks to hammer it straight back but miscues it.

Dinesh Karthik on air, informs us that the wind has picked up. Might just be a cloud but the conditions have just gotten a wee bit cloudy. Given that the ball is not moving around that much, may not be long before England try their luck with the wobbly seam.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Similar ball, worked off the inner half of the bat again, through mid-wicket, for a single.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, around middle, swinging in, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to play straight. But the late movement takes the ball off the inner half, towards short mid-wicket.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, A short ball, outside off, KL Rahul swivels, gets on top of the bounce and pulls it all along the ground through square leg, for a single.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Length ball on off, KL Rahul defends it into the ground and calls for one. Jaiswal screams out a loud 'NO' and stops KL.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, ! Another boundary in the same region! Full and swinging away, outside off, KL goes for the square drive and gets it off the outer half of the bat as the ball goes through the gap between backward point and gully for another boundary.

Meanwhile, we have an update from the ECB. Jacob Bethell is currently on as a substitute for Chris Woakes. Both, Bethell and Sam Cook are due to leave the squad on Saturday evening, to play in the Championship on Sunday. Jamie Overton is likely to stay with England.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, ! First real error from KL after an hour or so!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, left alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That's good pace.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and outside off, a touch wide, Yashasvi Jaiswal watches it go past. Another case of overstepping pointed out by the third umpire and umpire Chris Gaffaney signals a NO BALL.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, A short ball, outside off, barely rises. KL Rahul has enough time in the world to swivel and pull the ball to deep mid-wicket. Already, we are seeing an in-out field from Stokes.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ahh that has been the problem with England seamers this morning. One or two good deliveries followed by a poor delivery. Back of a length ball sliding well down the leg side. Jaiswal leaves it alone.

Talk about being positive and Stuart Broad will top the list. He is already looking at the average scores on Day 4 and Day 5 at Headingley, citing that the average runs per wicket goes upto nearly 40 on the 5th day,

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, That seemed like a slower ball. On a length, outside off, nibbling away late, KLR lets it go.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full and a bit too straight, KL falls over but manages to push the ball towards mid on.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, A bit wide outside off, Rahul lets it go.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full, around off, swinging away, KL Rahul comes forward and wstchfully pushes it towards point. The third umpire informs umpire Paul Reiffel that Stokes has overstepped and we see the signal for a NO BALL.

Meanwhile, in Galle, Bangladesh have just lost their third wicket. Milan Rathnayake has managed to break the 68-run stand between Shadman Islam and skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, trapping Shadman LBW for a well-made 76. Bangladesh's score now reads 128/3, with the overall lead saying 138.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, No run.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Length ball again. Angling in, just outside off, and moving away after pitching. KL Rahul judges the line carefully as he again shoulders his arms to the ball.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Length ball moving away, well outside off, KL Rahul doesn't bother playing it as he leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That is down the leg side.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a good length, around off, Jaiswal pushes it towards point.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Now, now, now, that is the IPL effect. Have to say, this was a bit needless from Jaiswal, at THIS stage of the game. One understands that he wants to be positive and attack but one should not overattack. A bouncer, around middle and off, Yashasvi Jaiswal ducks but at the last moment, tries to play the upper cut. Nearly guided it straight to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Angled in on a length, sliding down leg, KL Rahul flicks it behind square to deep fine leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Yashasvi Jaiswal had a fantastic WTC cycle from 2023-2025. He had scored 1798 runs in that cycle, second only to England's Joe Root, averaging a healthy 52.9.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Wide outside off again, Rahul will not commit the same mistake twice. That too, in the span of 3 balls. Watches it go past. Not a bad start from England's Midas.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Closer to the off stump, on a length, this time Rahul watches it go past.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Ooohh... nearly a fatal mistake!

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full and swinging away, outside off, KL Rahul leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Ahh! A poor length ball sliding down leg, KL Rahul looks to help it on it's way as he goes for a pull shot, but he doesn't get any bat on it.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Right on the money from Stokes!

Prior to this Test, KL Rahul had scored 614 runs in England - the most he has scored in an away country in Test cricket.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Nicely played again! Too full and straight, KL Rahul just leans on and punches it well to the right of Ben Stokes at mid off. The ball doesn't have the legs to roll away to the fence and Stokes cuts it off. Three taken.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Dragged length, bowling it wide of the off stump, let through to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Pitched-up delivery, honing into the off stump, Rahul blocks it on the front foot.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Length delivery on middle leg, KL Rahul cautiously flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, ! Driven down the ground!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Length delivery, on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal defends it to the left of point and calls for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. The general saying is that the first hour sets the tone for the day. In this case, for the series. India have been positively watchful, not being too defensive and looking to punish the bad balls. It's England who have been impatient. They have not found much swing and when they have, just sprayed it around, not able to control it. Brydon Carse has been the only bowler to put some doubts into the batters' minds and this opening hour has been nothing short of waste by the hosts. No

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Good take from the keeper! Pitched up from wide of the crease and angled well down leg. Rahul misses the flick as Jamie Smith springs to his left and pouches it safely.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Fuller and angled into the legs, KL Rahul drives it straight to mid on.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Good length, on middle, KL Rahul defends it to mid on.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, ! Overpitched and punished! Woakes goes full, in search of swing, the line is outside off, KL Rahul nicely again leans into the drive as he shifts his weight and drives this one through extra covers for four.

We are all talking about India missing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. But what about England? How badly will they miss James Anderson? Already without Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, with due respect, this current attack looks none better than the ones in the warmup games that India faced, with no real threat from any of the bowlers. Have to say, Jimmy would have walked with one leg to lead this attack, if he had not retired.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Put away with disdain! Not quite a half volley but in the zone and on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets on the front foot and shows the full face of the bat before playing a lovely straight drive back past the bowler for yet another boundary. India now 40/0 after 13 overs.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good change-up from Josh! Dug in a bit short and around off, gets the ball to really jump up off the deck. Jaiswal hops up and does well to keep it down on the off side.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Loud appeal for LBW and not given! There is some discussion in the middle between Stokes, Keeper, and the bowler and Stokes decides to go for the DRS.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, From round the wicket, on a length, moving away, just a touch, in the channel outside off. Jaiswal leaves it alone.

Amongst all the grounds in England, the length needs to be the fullest to try and hit the top of off stump. That is why, we are seeing a fair bit of half volleys this morning. But additionally, the bowlers need to be careful to not overdo it, as on a good pitch like this, with the sun beating down, that is a recipe for disaster as the ball will just keep travelling.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Similar line and length to the previous one, this one has a bit more carry as KL shoulders arms again.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Seam-up delivery from Woakes, lands it a bit short of a full length and in the channel around off. Left alone.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Back of a length again, on off, KL Rahul gets right behind the line of the ball and blocks it off the back foot.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

KL Rahul has scored the most runs among Indian openers since 2015 in Tests. Before this match, it read 2803 runs at an average of 35, which includes 14 half centuries and 7 tons. Change of ends for Chris Woakes. 5-1-14-0 so far.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, ! Lovely Shot!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bowls it well short now and wide as well, Jaiswal backs away and cuts it straight to the backward point fielder.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! That one, on the other hand, was asking to be hit!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, And again, Yashasvi Jaiswal getting a bit restless! Not all that short and angled across off, Jaiswal starts to fall back as he looks to thrash the ball away square on the off side and misses.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Good length delivery sliding on the pads, KL Rahul looks to work it behind square, but misses. The ball hits him near the thigh pad region and starts trickling towards deep fine leg. The batters sneak in a leg bye.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Angled in on off, on a good length, KL Rahul defends it to point.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Full toss on off, KL Rahul drives it back to the bowler.

In their first game as an opening pair, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched up 201 runs as an opening partnership against Australia. The first bowling change of the morning and the Test. Josh Tongue into the attack.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ouch! That must have stung Yashasvi Jaiswal!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched-up delivery around middle and at 142 kph, Jaiswal just covers the line and blocks it down the pitch.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ahh... impatience? Or just the modern day cricketer, trying to attack? The second point is not that bad, just that the ball was not too bad either.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, And now, a bit too straight. Rahul tucks it off his hips through square leg for a single.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Too wide again. Landed on a length, but pretty far outside off. Moves away but KL Rahul is in no mood to flirt with that.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched up around off, angling much further away, easy leave this time for Jaiswal.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Just full of a good length and on off, not much swing there, Jaiswal plays it late and nudges it down towards the slip cordon.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Much better. Woakes gets the ball to land around off and makes Jaiswal play at it. Then, the ball moves away off the deck, after drawing him forward, to beat the outside edge.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

A draw in Galle? Well, usually in Galle, Sri Lanka, Test matches don't end in a draw. They give one result or the other.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Well bowled and well left! Good length, in the channel, angling in and then straightening down the line. Rahul plays well inside the line.

Stokes has just given a signal to Josh Tongue, to get loose. Might see him from Woakes' end in an over or two.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Well negotiated!

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, On a length, but wide outside off. The ball pitches and then moves away but is too wide to be played at.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Full and straight, Rahul watches the ball closely and plays it late. Blocks it right under his eyes towards mid off.

The on-air commentators are still not sure about the toss decision. Michael Atherton informs us that on Thursday, there was much more grass on this pitch and a lot of it seems to have disappeared in a day. Additionally, with the sun beating down and the ball not swinging much, this is looking to be a good pitch to bat upon and also, could end up being a good toss to lose.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Excellent ball.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Half an appeal for LBW but it's probably doing too much! Perfect length from Woakes, lands it on middle and leg and gets it to swing back in sharply. Jaiswal once again plays all around a straighter one and the ball thuds into the pads.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prodigious swing this time!

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched up on middle, Jaiswal stands a bit outside of his crease and solidly blocks it off.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, On a length but down the leg side, Rahul taps it in front of mid on and takes a quick single.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, 2 runs.

Housefull. No, not the movie but the crowd at Headingley. Sold out for the first three days, informs Michael Atherton on air. He admits that it is by no means, at full capacity right now, but is confident that as the day wears on, the people will start to arrive.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good delivery! Carse goes fuller and bowls it on leg, getting the ball to swing back in sharply, Jaiswal plays all around it and gets hit high on the thigh pads.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good length, close to the off stump line, going straight on and left alone by Jaiswal.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Played with soft hands! Dragged length over middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets a bit squared up, but tries to defend with a straight bat. The ball takes the outside edge and goes down wide of the slip cordon and rolls away into the fence.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, The length is held back this time, angling away, outside off, Jaiswal lets it pass.

Uh oh... just 5 overs into the match and we already have a warning. A friendly warning, as might be it. Umpire Chris Gaffaney is not happy with the landing area of Woakes and brings it to his attention. Woakes tries to be cheeky and walk past Gaffaney but the umpire calls his name out loudly and grabs his attention. Shows the areas where his followthrough his ending up and asks him to stay away from the danger area. 

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Four!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Full, outside off, a touch wide, let through.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, On a good length, around off, finally some movement for Woakes, KL Rahul stays back and defends it to the off side.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched up, around off, as Woakes searches for swing, but does not get much. YJ leans into the shot and eases this through the covers for a single.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off again, angling away, Yashasvi lets it pass.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A touch short in length, around middle and leg, at the rib cage, Jaiswal tucks it towards the short leg area.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, outside off, moving away, Yashasvi Jaiswal watches it pass.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Full and just outside off, KL defends it towards mid-wicket.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, A bit too straight, Rahul looks to flick it away but misses and is hit on the pads.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, EDGED, ! Oooh... Stokes will be smiling at that. A mistake induced from Rahul. On a length, outside off, just a touch wide, KL Rahul goes for it, without moving his feet, aiming to punch it through the off side but gets a thick outside edge.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, outside off, tempting Yashasvi to drive, he lets it be.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! FANTASTIC! Really easy on the eye.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Confident stroke. Full, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal leans and drives it between cover and cover-point. The fielder gets to it near the ropes and keeps the batters to a couple.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, moving away, Jaiswal shoulders arms.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That is interesting. This is just the 13th ball of the Test match and already, Yashasvi Jaiswal is walking down the track, to counter the swing. Woakes drags the length back though, nipping it back in. Jaiswal misses his tuck and is hit on the pads. Too high.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Good swing, but again wide outside off. Easy leave. Much better over from Carse, as compared to Woakes.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, On a good length, wide outside off, KL Rahul stays back and shoulders arms.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, More swing. Full, outside off, swinging away nicely, but too wide to be played at. KLR lets it go with a lunge.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Oh wow. Very first ball from this end and Brydon Carse gets a lot of swing. Starts the ball on middle stump and then swings it nicely towards off stump, fuller in length. A watchful KL Rahul defends.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! First boundary of the match, but England won't mind that.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Add one more to the left-alones category, outside off.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

The national anthems have been sung and the players march out to the middle again for the highly anticipated Test series and match to begin. Some ex cricketers from England have already named this as a 'warmup' for the 'more important' Ashes later this year, Down Under, earning a lot of criticism from the world.

The players make their way out to the middle for their respective national anthems. Before the anthems, a minute's silence will be observed as a mark of respect to the victims of the Ahmedabad tragedy on 12th June, 2025. Everyone stands in respect. The players are also wearing black-arm bands on their jerseys. Time for the anthems then. The Indian national anthem will be sung first, given that India are the visiting side.

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta with the pitch report. He reckons this is a seamer-friendly venue. He says that there is a good layer of green grass covering. He says the pitch feels a little cold. He mentions that the forecast suggests that the weather is going to be sunny and hot and hence he believes there will be some moisture in the wicket. He mentions that historically in the last 6 games, bowling first teams have won. 

Shubman Gill, India's captain, says they would have bowled first as well as there might be some help initially in the first session. However, he feels that after the first session, it should be a good wicket to bat on with the sun out. On asked about preparation, he says the preparation has been amazing, they have played a few practice games and the squad is in good mental space. He mentions that they are playing 3 fast bowlers and Shardul Thakur. He also says that Sai Sudharsan is making his

England's skipper, Ben Stokes, opts to bowl first. Stokes reckons that Headingley is generally a pretty good wicket. Says that it is the end of June, and for this to be just the 2nd Test of the summer feels a bit weird. On the preparation, he says a few of the lads played county cricket and overall they had a great 3 days of preparation. Informs that the bowling lineup consists of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir and himself.

India (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

England (Playing XI) - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

TOSS - Ben Stokes flicks the coin up in the air and Shubman Gill calls 'Tails.' It lands on 'Heads' and Ben Stokes opts to BOWL first.

7.21 pm IST (1351 GMT) - Well then, we have an update! As per the broadcasters, play is expected to resume in under 5 minutes time, at 7.25 pm IST (1355 GMT), so settle in as we should see plenty of action pretty soon.

7.10 pm IST (1340 GMT) - The live visuals now depict that the rain has subsided completely and the covers are coming off. Not an umbrella in sight and we might have a quick resumption, which is great news. Conditions seem brighter as well. The ground staff can be seen working their magic, but for now, the hover cover is still on, probably as a precaution, given that there might be some more dark clouds coming in. The Indian players can be seen playing a game of 'footy' and look eager to get goin

6.54 pm IST (1324 GMT) - Okay, now this is bad. More covers are being called out now, as the drizzle has developed into a pretty heavy fall of rain. We might have to wait longer than expected now. Former Indian stumper, Deep Dasgupta confirms that there will be a reasonable amount of delay but the good news is that the fourth umpire is in the middle, albeit with an umbrella on.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Well, we will have to wait. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were called to the middle by the umpires but as soon as they came down the stairs from the team's dressing room, the drizzle returned.

... THE SECOND INNINGS ...

The Indian players are practicing their fielding drills at the moment and the hover cover is off again. Now, the Indians get into a huddle and the English openers are called out from the team balcony to bat out in the middle. Given the way India collapsed this afternoon, England would be happy but India will not mind it too much either as their own seamers could make merry in these conditions.

Jaiswal, Gill and Pant lit up the innings with three centuries as England just could find consistency in their lines and lengths. They toiled for the whole of Friday and even for around 90 minutes on Saturday, seemed out of focus. However, as they say, you never know when things can change in cricket, especially in Tests. India were looking at 550-600 around 30 minutes to go for Lunch on Day 2 and suddenly, in next to no time, find themselves ready to bowl, losing their last 7 wickets for 41 r

Scratch that again. The hover cover is back on as the drizzle starts to get heavier. So it does imply that we might have a delayed start to the second innings. A magnificent first-innings score of 471 from India, albeit it has a weird-looking scorecard. Three batters made hundreds, but only one other crossed 15, with 5 batters dismissed in single digits. 3 of those single-digits were ducks under 5 balls, so it has been an innings which has seen contruction as well as a collapse. Yashasvi Jaiswa

That did not last long. England have wrapped up things inside 5 overs post Lunch. They have taken 7 wickets either side of Lunch and from 430/3, India have been restricted to 471. Confusing weather scenes at Headingley, as with that wicket, the roller cover came on but now, it is off and there is no over cover in place.

Josh Tongue to Prasidh Krishna, ! BOWLED'EM! Josh Tongue with a flourish towards the end and he ends up with a four-fer. Tongue goes quick and full and gets the ball tailing back into leg stump. Prasidh Krishna leaves a big gap between bat and pad as he tries to swing across the line and is beaten all ends up. The ball knocks the leg stump out of the ground and India finish with 471 runs on the board!

Josh Tongue to Prasidh Krishna, Length ball on off, looking to shape it away, Krishna hangs back and manages to jam the bat down in time.

Josh Tongue to Mohammed Siraj, Full of a good length and attacking off and middle, tucked away neatly to the right of mid-wicket by Siraj for another single.

Josh Tongue to Mohammed Siraj, Marginally short and angled in from around leg, Siraj gets inside the line to pull but misses.

Josh Tongue to Prasidh Krishna, Good length, honing in on the stumps, Prasidh Krishna jams it down to mid on and scampers through for a single.

Prasidh Krishna is the last batter in, replacing Ravindra Jadeja. Meanwhile, the light has faded once again at Headingley and the floodlights have been switched on to full effect.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, ! TIMBER! Josh Tongue with his third wicket of the game and he's making light work of the Indian tail now, albeit Jadeja is a class batter.

Ravindra Jadeja is in the elite list of Indian allrounders who have scored 3000 runs and taken 300 wickets in Test cricket.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Fuller in length, outside off, Siraj makes a bit of a let leave as the ball too nibbles away late and goes through to the keeper.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Attempted yorker on off, looking to swing it across the outside edge. Siraj manages to block it out.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Wider on the crease, bowled on a shorter length and outside off. This one leaves the right-hander and Siraj ends up playing well inside the line.

Brydon Carse to Ravindra Jadeja, Goes very full now and tries to angle it across off, Jadeja pushes it out wide of covers for a single.

Brydon Carse to Ravindra Jadeja, ! That is a shot! Length ball on middle and leg, Ravindra Jadeja advances, making a bit of room and just punches the lofted drive sweetly and well over mid on for another boundary.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Not what Carse would have wanted on the first delivery. Shorter one at the hips, tucked away down to long leg for a single by Siraj and he gets Jadeja back on strike.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, ! Uh, oh! A rare blemish in the field from Brydon Carse. Tongue brings out the bumper, bowling it over middle, Ravindra Jadeja leans back and firms the pull behind square leg. Carse sprints to his left in the deep and gets there but slips and lets the ball through the hands for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, Bowls it full and around off, Ravindra Jadeja shapes up for the heave but ends up jamming it towards mid on.

Josh Tongue to Mohammed Siraj, Goes for the inswinging yorker but ends up serving a low full toss on the pads, Mohammed Siraj flicks it through square leg and picks up a single.

Mohammed Siraj walks in next, at number 10, replacing Jasprit Bumrah.

Josh Tongue to Jasprit Bumrah, ! EDGED AND CAUGHT! Easy as you like. Josh Tongue pitches the ball up around off and middle, gets the ball to shape away in the air as well. Jasprit Bumrah is drawn into the drive and ends up getting an outside edge straight to second slip. The ball goes into the bread basket of Harry Brook over there and he makes no mistake. Bumrah departs for a five-ball duck and India are now 458/8.

Josh Tongue to Jasprit Bumrah, Length ball around off, angling in and then holding its line, Bumrah presses back and defends it away from the body to cover-point.

Josh Tongue to Jasprit Bumrah, Tickled around the corner. Fuller in length, slanted onto the pads, Jasprit Bumrah misses the flick and the ball clips the pads and goes fine of leg gully and rolls away for four leg byes.

Still no Woakes. Josh Tongue has been given the ball with a change od ends. 18-0-79-1 so far.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Tossed up full and on off, blocked off the front foot by Jadeja. Maiden over!

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, A lot more flight on this one, tossing it up on middle, Jadeja leans on and pushes it towards cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Nagging length, drifted into midle and leg, Jadeja lunges and stabs it down the deck.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Full, around leg, Jadeja lunges a big deal but the ball still bounces and goes off the handle, just wide of leg slip, to his right.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Around middle and leg, tossed up slightly Ravindra Jadeja drives it back to the bowler.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, No run.

Time for Woakes?

Ben Stokes to Jasprit Bumrah, Good length around the fifth stump line, Bumrah presses back and leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to Jasprit Bumrah, A gentle loosener to begin the new session. A length ball, spilled down the leg side.

When you are in England, expect the unexpected. Around 10 minutes back, it looked heavily overcast with the pitch being covered. However, now, though the conditions have not changed by much, it seems to have brightened up and the hover cover is off. The drizzle has gone as well.

... DAY 2, SESSION 2 ...

Meanwhile, in Galle, the fist Test of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh's 2025-27 WTC cycle has predictably ended in a draw. Taijul Islam's 3 wickets gave Bangladesh hopes of a collapse in the Lankan ranks but it wasn't to be. It was a match similar to the ones in the early 2000s, with the pitch as flat as a pancake. Bangladesh chose to bat and made 495 in their first innings, through centuries from skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim while Litton Das chipped in with 90. In reply, Sri Lank

'It has started to rain', quips Stuart Broad on air. Right behind him, we can see the hover cover being placed on the pitch. The main covers are not on yet, as it is just a light drizzle. But as per the rules of cricket, we cannot start unless the drizzle stops completely. It might be possible that the covers might come on as a precautionary measure because there is the forecast for thundershowers right around this time. So maybe, we might have a delayed start to the second session and could pos

Stuart Broad is on air at the moment, we can actually see dark clouds forming in the background. While England will be happy seeing that, they don't want those conditions to stay on for long. Remember, there is someone called Jasprit Bumrah in the opposition who will just be wanting to get that Dukes ball in his hand. So the focus for the home side would be to not let the tail wag with Jadeja and keep India under 475. The visitors, on the other hand, might just come out after the break and go h

And yes, we have not forgotten England either. They are just about hanging in there in this Test, thanks to that last half hour before Lunch. However, the bowling has looked ordinary, with the exception of Ben Stokes, who has been nothing short of phenomenal, and to some extent, Shoaib Bashir, who has made the ball talk. Chris Woakes has looked way below par while Brydon Carse needs more consistency. Clearly, this is not the bowling attack the hosts would have looked for at the start of the

Ah... no, we have not forgotten the skipper. In his very first Test as a skipper, that too, in overseas conditions, Shubman Gill displayed an innings full of character, with exemplary technique. Barely did we see any loose shot played and what was impressive was the way he handled the conditions. Took time to get set, then opened up after getting set. Then, when the ball was reversing on Day 1, he ensured that England did not get any opening and even this morning, did not just throw it away. A

Rishabh Rajendra Pant. This guy is special, isn't he? And how poor is our memory? Just around 3 weeks back, the fans were into Pant's skin, who was arguably having one of his worst IPL seasons ever. And captaincy duties seemed to be taking toll on him. However, change of ball, change of format, change of venue and change of clothing has changed his luck as he played one of his best Test innings ever. Of course, in terms of the match situation, cannot match his 97 against Australia in Sydney in 2

This is the beauty of Test cricket. For nearly 90 minutes into the day, England looked lost, not at all consistent with their bowling, dishing out some pretty loose stuff. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant seemed pretty comfortable at the crease, with the latter going on the attack. Then, on a really innocuous delivery, Gill lost his wicket and all of a sudden, a collapse ensued, which also consumed Pant, who was arguably asked to slow down minutes before his dismissal.

What a manic half an hour. The session reads 95 runs for 4 wickets in 23.4 overs but let's look at it in isolation. The first 16.4 overs, India scored 71/0. The last 7 overs, England picked up 4/24! So whose session was it? Let's call it balanced though the hosts have got some momentum on their side.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, ! EDGED AND GONE! Ben Stokes with a wicket right on the stroke of Lunch once again and India are going down in a hurry.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, Bowled on a length and wide outside off, swinging back in, Shardul shoulders arms.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, Brings out the full and wide one, but bowls a low full toss that just dips on the batter. Thakur, with no foot movement, just tris to drive and gets an inside edge down towards the keeper.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, Good-length delivery, in the channel, zipping away late, Tahkur makes a leave.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, NOT ! Good energy in the field from Brydon Carse but Shardul Thakur escapes.

Direct hit! England are confident, but so is Shardul Thakur that he has made his ground. Referred upstairs. Sure enough, one replay is enough to confirm that Shardul is well in.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, Oh, that's gone a long way! Bumper from Tongue, banged in around off and Shardul Thakur ducks under it but the ball finishes well down the leg side and Jamie Smith does well to pouch it well to his left.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, Back of a length and outside off, left alone by Thakur.

It seems like we shall be playing till the clock strikes 1 pm at Headingley. Around 4 minutes left for Lunch, but Shardul Thakur is forced to walk out to bat, to play these last few minutes before the break, replacing Rishabh Pant.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, No run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, ! LBW! Tongue stays around the wicket and hones in on that good length again, but thistime, he bowls it outside off and gets the ball to jag back in sharply. Pant hops across and tries to leave but the ball pings him on the pads. There is a  huge appeal, and given! A big miscalculation from Rishabh Pant and that could be catastrophic. Pant has a long chat with Ravindra Jadeja and does review it, he simply has to review it. The third umpire is called in a

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Around the wicket, bowling it on a hard length and angling it into the pads. Pant looks to tuck it away but misses and gets in the gap between the pad and thigh pad. That will sting a bit.

Ben Stokes to Ravindra Jadeja, Full and straight, defended solidly. Another eventful over.

Ben Stokes to Ravindra Jadeja, On a good length, outside off, jags back in sharply, probably hitting a rough patch, Jadeja looks to defend but the ball shoots up sharply and catches him on the glove.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

At the end of the last over, a message was seen coming out from the Indian dressing room. With Lunch around the corner, one suspects that it might have been along the lines of staying calm till the break, particularly Pant. India are in a very good position, but you don't want to get England into the game by playing some loose shots and losing momentum. The attack can continue post Lunch. But if Pant were to fall now, to his own folly, the hosts might just get a look in.

Ben Stokes to Ravindra Jadeja, Pope flies again! This time though, the ball does not stick in his hands.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Rishabh Pant now has 7 centuries in Test cricket - the most by an Indian wicketkeeper, going past MS Dhoni's 6. He has also gone past Dhoni's 78 sixes in Tests, which means Pant's 79 sixes are the most by a designated Indian wicketkeeper. Overall, Adam Gilchrist leads the pack, with 100 sixes as a wicketkeeper. Amongst Indian players, Pant now stands third in the list of sixes, behind Rohit Sharma (88) and Virender Sehwag (90).

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a good length, outside off, Rishabh Pant pushes inside the line and is beaten.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, On a length, just outside off, RP taps it towards cover and takes a quick single. And tell you what, one of his boots come off!

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Around off, pushed towards cover.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Down the leg side, once again Rishabh falls over but manages to clip it towards square leg.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, A mild LBW appeal, but nothing much in it.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, Full and straight, Ravindra Jadeja pushes it down the ground for a single to get off the mark.

Ravindra Jadeja walks in next at number 7, replacing Karun Nair. Meanwhile, it is Rishabh Pant getting some attention on his lower back. Wonder whether his cartwheeling celebration on his century has got to do something with this. Right all set now, as Josh Tongue gets back to bowl. 16-0-75-0 so far.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Oh my. Full and straight, from around the wicket, Rishabh Pant gets down and across and looks to play the lap shot. But gets it off the bottom of the bat through mid-wicket, for a single.

Ben Stokes to Karun Nair, ! CAUGHT! That is a spectacular catch and it is a heartbreak for Nair on comeback. For the second time in two days, a new batter comes with a few minutes to the break and loses his wicket. But while this is Stokes' third wicket, the credit has to go to the fielder, Ollie Pope. Full and wide outside off, there to be driven. Karun Nair goes hard on the drive through the covers and does not bother to keep it down. It seems like he has got enough elevation but P

Ben Stokes to Karun Nair, Down the leg side, Nair cannot get it away.

Ben Stokes to Karun Nair, Nearly a wicket! On a length, outside off, Karun Nair looks to defend but the ball hits the bottom part of the bat and goes back. Bounces over the stumps!

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, A short ball, outside off, Rishabh punches it through point for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, This one jags back in a long way from around the wicket, Pant is watchful and defends at the last moment.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, ! WHAM! Total shift of gears from Pant.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, outside off, RP leans and pushes it towards cover for a single. Eventful over, could have had a wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, STUMPING MISSED! More rotten luck for England. Flighted, outside off, Pant jumps down the track again and looks to go big, but is not to the pitch of the ball. Misses it totally and in that process, loses control of his bat as well. 

The cloud cover has been building steadily and because of that, the ball has started to move a bit now. There is the forecast of the thunderstorm looming around Lunch time and the atmosphere just about feels a bit heavy.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! WHACK! There goes Pant again! Full, around middle and off, Rishabh Pant gets down on a knee and sweeps it powerfully over square leg! Moves to 124 with his 6th six.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, A short ball now, outside off, carved away to Zak Crawley at sweeper cover, for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, ! WALLOP! Too full by Stokes, nearly overpitched and he gets punished. Outside off, Rishabh Pant powers this down the ground, to the left of mid off.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full, outside off, swinging away, RP shoulders arms.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a good length, outside off, Rishabh punches it straight to point.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, outside off, this time Pant meets the ball, pushing it towards cover.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Karun Nair, No run.

More misery for the England. The last time this man played against them, he scored a triple century. What's coming up this time? Karun Nair walks in at number 6, replacing his skipper, Shubman Gill.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, ! CAUGHT! A wicket out of nowhere and Gill will have to wait for his maiden Test 150. Finally something to smile for the home side.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Short, outside off, the skipper stays back to block it down the pitch.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Tossed up this time. Full, outside off, Shubman gets down to sweep but misses. The ball spins and bounces, hitting Gill on the right glove, before poping up onto the helmet.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Fired in with the arm, around off, short in length, Gill punches it back to the bowler.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, Shubman Gill lunges across to work it away but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full and straight, Rishabh pushes it towards mid off.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around off, Pant swings hard but mistimes it towards mid on. Seems like he is going to go after every delivery now.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Very full, on middle, Gill flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, A wild bouncer, outside off, Shubman Gill lets it pass.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, punched through the covers for a couple.

Opportunities missed? Or sheer consistency? This is the 7th time that Rishabh Pant has reached the century mark in Tests but 14th time that he has touched the 90-mark!

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full, outside off, Rishabh Pant pushes it through the covers for a quick single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted again, around off, Gill leans on to block.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! Rishabh Pant was almost undone there but he does get the six in the end.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Fired in this time, around middle, Pant presents a dead bat at it.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! Rishabh Pant brings up his HUNDRED in the most Pant style possible and he even does a cartwheel to celebrate it. This is tossed up on the stumps, Pant skips down the pitch and heaves across the line, one hand comes off the handle but the ball sails over the fence in front of deep mid-wicket and that is a sensational century. His 7th in Test matches, 4th one against England. Will he now let loose completely?

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Length again, around the top of off, punched away towards cover.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Ooh, extra bounce and nearly carried to Ben Duckett! Ben Stokes hits the hard length and bowls it around off, the ball wobbles away with extra bounce, catching Gill by surprise. The ball takes the shoulder of the blade and lobs short of gully.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Pitched up full and on off, trying to dart it back in, Gill shows the full face of the blade and pushes it straight back past the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, On a good length and outside off, Gill gets a stride across and leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Stokes does go for it! That dipping full toss from Day 1 and even the on-air commentators called it. Slower one, bowled very full on off, but it dips and dips late on the batter. Pant manages to maneuver it away through covers for a single and moves to 99.

DRINKS BREAK. Perfect time for Harry Brook to rush off the field and check whether he has got any swelling or not. The English players are laughing but that was definitely not funny. Even the Indian players look worried in their balcony. Coming to the game, another average hour for England. 53 runs in 13 effortless overs, without any wicket. Without needing to do much work, India are comfortably rolling along, having scored at around 4 runs an over this hour and it just seems like the hosts ar

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Fuller in length, bowled in the channel, Pant watches it all the way and makes the leave.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Oh, deary me! Grip and turn for Shoaib Bashir but it is Harry Brook who is caught in the firing line. Tossed up around off, not all that full. Rishabh Pant leans on to block but the ball turns and takes the outside edge, going down and wide of first slip. The batters look for the single and Ben Duckett picks up the ball running to his right from backward point. He has a shy at the keeper's end but ends up hitting Brook, who is going off the field.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Slower through the air, on a length and drifting into middle and leg, Gill tucks it across to the leg side agan.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted again, this time a smidge fuller and closer to the off pole, Gill prods and nudges it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Nicely flighted, outside off, Gill lunges and blocks it off with soft hands.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Good follow-up delivery from Stokes! Nagging length in the channel, seaming away off the deck as well, Gill makes a watchful leave.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, ! Glorious but it was begging to be hit!

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On the fuller side and pretty straight, Pant leans on and flicks it right off the stumps behind square leg for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Hard length angled in from around middle, Pant pushes it down into the leg side for another dot ball.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Oh, well bowled!

England need some inspiration and once again, skipper Ben Stokes is forced to take the ball. The best of the bowlers on Day 1, the only one looking threatening. 13-1-43-2 so far.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Good length, in the channel, just slanting away, Rishabh Pant shoulders arms at it.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Shorter ine length, quicker too and fired into middle and leg, Pant pulls it off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! Wasn't even that short!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Nagging length on off and middle, Pant blocks it off the back foot.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Is the weather changing? Out of nowhere, the conditions have become cloudy. Not overcast as of yet, but a few clouds have hid the sun beneath them. Stuart Broad on air, mentioned this morning that there is a forecast of thundershowers around Lunch time, that is 5.30 pm IST (1200 GMT). Spin for the first time this morning. Here comes Shoaib Bashir. 21-4-66-0 so far.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! The falling lap sweep, a Rishabh Pant special. Tossed up on off, Pant attacks the off-spinner right away by shuffling across and lapping it over the leg slip fielder to find the fence.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Good length in the channel outside off, seaming away slightly, tapped away towards cover-point by Gill. Not the bests of overs, but a maiden for Woakes nonetheless.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Better! Fuller and just around off stump, making Gill play at it. Gill leans on and blocks it off.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, The wheels have come off for Woakes, it seems. Another length ball, well outside off, and going further away. Gill makes another easy leave.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Oh dear.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller, outside off, Shubman Gill leans into the drive and connects well but cannot get it past mid off to his left.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, left alone.

Talking about centuries, England have got one as well. Chris Woakes has become the first to make an entry in that column, having conceded 103 runs in 23 overs.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Good length around leg, sliding on, Rishabh Pant decides to make a leave and the ball thuds the pads before rolling to the on side.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Short of a good length, angling across middle, Pant hops to the off side and nudges it across in front of square leg.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, A quick bumper now, right at the batter, Pant ducks under it.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Down the leg side, Rishabh gets across and tucks it towards short mid-wicket.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Better line. On a length, just around off, Pant pushes at it but misses.

Trouble? Not sure. Shubman Gill has removed his helmet and the gloves. No idea what was that for, because we did not see anyone coming in to give him tablets. On Day 1, Gill took a couple of massages on his lower back.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, ! VIOLENCE!

Compared to Day 1, we are seeing much tighter fields this morning. But the lines have not been all that consistent.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Piling on the misery here, Shubman Gill. Shortish length and outside off, Gill stays back in his crease and gives the ball a tap on the head, guiding it wide of the slip cordon and into the deep third fence.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No ball! Short of a length and outside off, Gill stays back and plays it with the away movement down to the slip cordon. Woakes has overstepped again, he's just not been his old self thus far in this game.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Length ball on the pads, tucked away behind square leg for an easy single.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, NO BALL! Back of a length and outside off, punched off the back foot towards point where the fielder makes a sharp stop. Woakes has overstepped and the third umpire calls a no ball.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Length ball around middle, swinging well across the left-hander, left alone by Pant.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, A length ball, down the leg side, Rishabh Pant tickles it behind square leg. Shoaib Bashir charges onto the ball from the deep and gets to the ball, but while picking it up, takes his eyes off the ball. The batters take the second on the fumble.

Pant has hit 23 sixes against England in Test cricket, the most by him against any team in this format.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Hard length in the channel, Gill stays upright and punches it down into the off side.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Crawley gets a good hand on that one and stops a certain boundary. Short and wide, Shubman Gill reaches out and plays a half-punch square on the off side. The ball rockets to the left of point where Crawley dives and the ball still almost goes through to the fence. Two taken.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Carse continues on a shorter length and bowls it around the rib cage, Pant gets it away down to long leg and turns the strike over.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, A short ball now, Shubman Gill plays a short-arm jab through mid-wicket for a run.

Spark of interest? Definitely not here. England have already become like a team going through the motions. The bowlers are just coming in and putting it out there and it is just all too easy for India at the moment. But there is some spark of interest in Galle. Bangladesh have managed to nip out both the Lankan openers and at Tea on Day 5, Sri Lanka are 34/2, trying to chase down 296. 29 overs left in the day. Can Bangladesh pick up 4-5 wickets and end the match on a high?

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Similar length, on a tighter line around off, Shubman Gill leans right ahead and blocks it back to the bowler. A bit more control shown here by Woakes now.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Pitches this one up outside off, Gill lunges and pushes it away towards cover.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Hard length on off, this one angles back in, Gill just gets inside the line and tucks it to the leg side.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Back of a length, outside off, Shubman Gill defends it down the pitch.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Slightly shorter than the previous one, angling away, Pant steers it behind point for a single.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Full, around middle and off, Rishabh Pant lunges to defend.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Another short ball, another cut, straight to point again!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, WIDE. Maybe Carse saw Pant come down the track and hence, dug it in short. But it is way too short and goes well over the head of the batter.

Rishabh Pant has scored 5 fifties and 3 hundreds against England in Test cricket, the most 50-plus scores by him against any team.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, ! Lovely shot.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, another solid block from the Indian captain. The first maiden of the day.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a good length, around off, Shubman pushes it towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, worked towards short mid-wicket.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, pushed towards point.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller, just outside off, Gill gets a good stride to block.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, Shubman Gill offers a frontfoot defense towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Full, just outside off, RP looks to defend but the ball nips away to beat the outside edge. Just as we say typical Pant, that is typical Carse. Two really good deliveries, two normal deliveries and two really ordinary deliveries. The day he gets consistency in his bowling, he will be a bowler to behold.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Around leg stump, short of full, Rishabh hops to keep it out to the leg side.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around off, pushed towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Four!

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, down the leg side, Pant cannot get it away.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Oh wow. That is Rishabh Pant for you. A length ball, around middle and leg, Pant jumps down the track and swings wildly. Gets a thick inside edge but it goes over the stumps and bounces just in front of the keeper, Jamie Smith.

A disappointing start from Chris Woakes.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and just outside off, a good solid block from the skipper.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Outside off, on a length, punched towards point.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Ben Duckett is called at short extra cover but Woakes dishes out a floaty half volley on the pads. He is lucky to get away with it as Shubman flicks but short mid-wicket dives to his left to stop the ball.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! GLORIOUS! A bit of a loosener from Woakes and it has been put away with sheer class.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

England may not be overly buzzing but their fans certainly here.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, outside off, curving in late, RP shoulders arms and the ball carries at a good height to the keeper.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Ahhh... this one stays slightly low.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Slightly around middle and off, similar length, Pant lets it go.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around leg, angling away, Rishabh Pant drops it down near his feet.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, The first run of the day comes on the very first ball. A short ball, outside off, Shubman Gill gets inside the line and hooks it towards long leg for a single.

All set for Day 2 to begin! The overnight batters punch their fists and stride out to the middle. England make their way out to the middle and have to admit, don't look overly buzzing. But if they have make any sort of a comeback in this series, it has to be this session and in more likelihood, this opening hour. Brydon Carse to start off to Shubman Gill for the day.

As we wait for the first ball of the day to be bowled, let's travel a bit around the world and check what's happening elsewhere. We have come down to the fourth innings of a rather meandering opening Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, where the Lankans have been set a rather improbable target of 296 in roughly around 37 overs. Highly unlikely that either team will end up winning, with Bangladesh's declaration coming primarily to give their bowlers a run. Amidst the gloom of a draw,

PITCH REPORT - Former Indian stumper DEEP DASGUPTA observes the deck. Looking at the pitch, Dasgupta feels that there is no change from yesterday. Does not spot any ball marks and not much footmarks either. But reckons that the colour of the pitch has changed, as it was a lot greener last morning, while today it is much browner. Deep adds that this colour change means that it will get better to bat and with the sun out, the batters will feast. However, cautioning against some grey skies later in

Let's now have a look at what Indian opener and centurion, Yashasvi Jaiswal had to say to one of the broadcasters at the end of Day 1. Jaiswal says that they all did a good job and it was amazing to go out there and bat and enjoy the English summer. Adds that he just tries to be himself and do his job. Mentions that they had good practice sessions and matches and tried to keep things simple. On Shubman Gill, he says that the way he played was great to watch and he seemed composed.

Surprise, surprise! The live visuals from the ground show that it is a bright and sunny morning at Headingley to begin with. Given the weather forecast, there shouldn't be any disruption in the opening session but in the afternoon, things might change. Let's hope that things remain bright throughout the day and we can get a full day of play in. Stick around as our build-up to the start of Day 2 continues.

For India, the focus will be on extending their formidable total as much as possible, with Gill and Pant looking to build on their strong partnership. Rishabh Pant, in particular, will be eyeing a big score after surpassing his fifty late on Day 1. England, on the other hand, will rely on their pace attack, especially with the potential for more helpful conditions, to rip through the Indian lower order quickly. The battle between India's well-set batters and England's rejuvenated bowlers, under

England's bowlers toiled hard on a relatively flat pitch, managing only three wickets, with Ben Stokes being the pick of the attack. The hosts will be desperate for early breakthroughs on Saturday to prevent India from piling on an even bigger first-innings total. However, the weather forecast for Day 2 at Headingley introduces a significant variable. While Day 1 enjoyed clear skies, Saturday is expected to be gloomier, with a high probability of rain and thunderstorms, particularly in the afte

Hello and a warm welcome to Headingley in Leeds for Day 2 of the 1st Test between England and India. Day 2 is poised to be a crucial one, with India firmly in the driver's seat after a dominant opening day. Captain Shubman Gill's magnificent unbeaten century, coupled with another fine ton from Yashasvi Jaiswal and a gritty half-century from Rishabh Pant, saw India reach a commanding 359/3 at stumps.

... DAY 2, SESSION 1 ...

Just to recap the first day, Ben Stokes opted to bowl first on a sunny day in Leeds, sticking to the norm but with the sun being out for the past few days and no rain, the purchase pacers generally get in the first session wasn't quite there. The English bowlers didn't help themselves either and we rarely saw wicket-taking opportunities being created. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal looked in the correct mindset from the get-go and made sure India got through that crucial first hour unscathed.

A total of 144 runs were scored in that final session in 34 overs, with just one wicket falling, showcasing to an extent the vulnerability of the current English attack, but also the conditions which were contrasting to the ones we generally find at Headingley on Day 1 of a Test match. Shoaib Bashir toiled hard from one end but the pacers simply couldn't make inroads, and there just weren't enough edges that were found. Josh Tongue, in particular, showed his inexperience but Woakes did get bett

A final session that England would have thought about winning, especially once Ben Stokes knocked over the centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal right after Tea, but it wasn't meant to be. The Indian skipper, Shubman Gill, already set, was on a mission and he took complete control once Jaiswal departed. Rishabh Pant has a positive record in England and even after a tough stint in the recent Indian T20 League, Pant was close to his best in red-ball cricket. The two attacked early on but took a step ba

A day that belonged to India, something which not many would have been sure of coming into this 1st Test with the retirement of a couple of batting stalwarts and the captaincy change but it seems like England have found it tougher to replace their fabled pacer James Anderson and the injured duo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, which a talented batting has just exploited.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, From the book of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Woakes lands this outside off and Pant brings his bat down to defend, AFTER the ball goes past.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Full, around leg stump, Pant nearly sweeps this towards deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Landed outside off, steered straight to point.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Six!

One more over? Ben Stokes is seen hurrying everyone around, trying to get one more over and one more wicket before close. His first wish is granted as we will have another over as the clock just about ticks at 6.30 pm local, but the players are already at their positions, so we will have this over. Whether he gets his second wish or not, is something time will tell.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, A beauty to end the over.

Carse is trying his level best to make this the last over of the day. There are still two minutes left on the clock. Might have one more over from the other end.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, Gill plays inside the line as the ball comes in with the angle.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, coming in with the angle but nipping away off the seam, Shubman pushes it towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, A short ball, around off, Shubman Gill defends it towards cover.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Outside off, drives to deep point for a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, Shubman shows the full face of the bat and pushes it towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, Gill looks to defend but gets it off the inner half of the bat towards square leg.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, driven straight to cover.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Four!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No ball!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Short again, outside off, this is punched in front of deep point for a couple.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Four!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Howzzat? Woakes wants the LBW, Smith wants the catch. The umpire gives neither. Bowler and keeper look in unison towards the skipper, who shakes his head. Worth a review, surely?

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, Gill gets across and works it through square leg for a single. Woakes is ready to take his cap back but umpire Gaffaney stops him. The third umpire is in his ear and informs that Woakes has overstepped. NO BALL!

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full, around off, from a bit wide of the crease, angling it in, Shubman Gill gets across and pushes it towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, A short ball, around off, dropped towards point for a single.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around off, angling away, Rishabh plays inside the line and gets beaten.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, ! Oh my word! What was that? Well, Pant can have a laugh about it now but this could have been a very different mood had this not met the bat.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around middle, Rishabh Pant gets across and defends.

The second new ball is available now. And without any delay, Ben Stokes takes it. Chris Woakes will make the first use of it. 16-2-73-0 so far. Around 20 minutes left for Stumps in this extended period of play, but if India get any loose balls, they will not think twice before going hard at it. This new ball will definitely be quicker and move around, but it is also a double-edged sword as if the bowlers don't get it right, it will travel.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Fuller in length this time, blocked off the front foot.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Flatter delivery on middle and leg, tucked away into the leg side for a run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, A bit slower and straighter, drifting in from middle, Pant watchful keepsit out.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Pant has scored 2 Test centuries in England, the most by him in any away country.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A quick and sharp bumper now, over the batter's front shoulder. Gill leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, ! Makes room and finds the gap! Not all that short and angled in from middle, Gill backs away and the ball doesn't rise up much, allowing Gill to smack it away through covers for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A slower-ball bumper now from Tongue, bowled in and around the helmet, Gill slightly ducks under it.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, A duck and a pull, all at the same time, that's Rishabh Pant for you. Short again over middle, Pant looks to duck but knows he can't, so he just swats it at the last moment towards deep backward square leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Short ball over middle and leg, Gill stands tall and plays a controlled pull through backward square leg for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Dragged length on middle and leg, Gill advances and flicks it to the right of mid-wicket for an easy single to end the over.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Fuller one at the stumps, clipped away to mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Marginally short and wide, cut away in front of square on the off side for a run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Tossed up, wide outside off, Pant gets his front leg across and makes a leave.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Flighted up, on a length around off, drifting away a touch as well. Pant blocks it off.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Short of a length, at the bodyline, Pant moves inside the line and goes hard at the pull, mistiming it down to long leg only for a single.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, The ball becoming softer and the bounce on this occasion proves it. Banged in short again over middle and leg, angling in, Pant ducks but the ball barely goes over him.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, The 100-run stand is up between these two with this single. Gill, expecting the short ball, backs away to open the off side but the bowler follows him with the short ball. Gill ends up just jabbing it in front of square leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Oh, you can almost hear Sunil Gavaskar's epic commentary not too long ago in Australia, when Pant played a similar shot and got out. Banged in on a hard length and over the stumps, Rishabh Pant shuffles past the off stump and plays the falling lap, only to miss it completely.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Short ball, banged in over middle, Shubman Gill with a short-arm jab in front of square leg and he picks up a single. A 6-3 leg side field for him now, we shall see plenty more of the short stuff from Josh Tongue to Gill.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

6th Test century for Shubman Gill then. His first as a captain, in his very first inning. It is also his first century in the first innings of a Test. Out of his 6 tons, England have been equal partners, conceding three.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 4 Leg byes.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Six!

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Four!

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

India have had a rough away record, winning just one Test series since 2022, against Bangladesh.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Six!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Four!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Slower through the air, given a bit of air, turning away, outside off, Rishabh Pant shoulders his arms to that one.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Full, on middle, driven down the ground for a run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Around middle, patted down the ground.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Four!

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Outside off, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Ooohhh... nearly holes out!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! THUNDEROUS! Pant finally gets one away, after itching for an age to get after Bashir. Short, around off, Pant rocks back and heaves it through mid-wicket for his third boundary. The stand moves to 61.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, A touch short, around middle, Rishabh Pant defends.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A short ball, around off, defended towards cover.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, shaping in, Shubman Gill defends it watchfully towards point.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Again, misdirected down the leg side, unless this is a deliberate attempt to try and get Pant caught down the leg side. Rishabh whips it towards deep backward square leg for a run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Further down the leg side, Pant looks to tuck but misses again. Suspect the ball brushed his pad on its way to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, On a length, down the leg side, Rishabh Pant misses his tuck and is hit on the pads.

Shubman Gill has played 3 Test Matches in England, 2 of which were WTC Finals, but hasn't played up to his reputation yet. He has scored a meagerly 88 runs, averaging just 14.7, with a highest of 28. Josh Tongue returns. 11-0-45-0 so far. He has been quick today, but not necessarily got his radar right.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A short ball, around off, Shubman Gill pulls it through square leg for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full and straight, Rishabh defends.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Around middle and leg, Pant works it towards square leg.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full, around off, Rishabh Pant lunges to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Shortish, around off, whipped straight to short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Shorter and quicker, around middle and off, 94 kph, Gill works it through square leg for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. Finally, an hour of play where we have seen good balance between bat and ball. England have got the ball to reverse which has kept the Indians honest and they have not attempted much flashy strokes. If any, the attack has firmly been against the off spinner but even there, Shoaib Bashir has done well to not be blown away. The session started with a wicket in the second over and then a blitzy shot from Pant for his first boundary, but after that, he has been pretty much circumspec

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, Shubman Gill defends.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Landed outside off, pushed towards cover-point.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, ! Educated edge, they say. What does that actually mean?

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Rishabhh Pant has performed well in England, with even his first Test century coming in this country, in 2018. Prior to this match, Pant had amassed 556 runs at a healthy average of 32.7.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, In the air... safe! 50-RUN STAND! The third one of the innings.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full and around leg stump, Rishabh lunges to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Outside off, a touch short, 93 kph, Shubman Gill goes back and works it through the covers for a run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Outside off, punched down to long on for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Short, around off, Rishabh Pant punches it through point. The ball races through the outfield and once again, Josh Tongue puts in a bizarre effort.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Before this match, Gill had scored 592 runs against England in Tests, the most by him against any team in this format. His 3 fifties and 2 hundreds against this team is also the most by him against any other.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Outside off, Pant steers it through point for a run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No ball!

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Full, outside off, coming in but shaping away, left alone.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Bye.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Around off, watchfully defended.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Change of angle, from around the wicket, fuller in length, on middle and leg, hint of inward shape, Rishabh Pant flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Hmmm... just before the start of the 61st over, Rishabh Pant was seen telling Shubman Gill, 'BALL ABHI BAN RAHA HAI'.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, A touch quicker, and fuller, Gill eases the drive to short cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Slower and shorter outside off, slapped away to the left of sweeper cover for a couple of runs by Shubman Gill.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, A bit quicker and shorter around off, Gill waits back and taps it wide of first slip.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Oh, sloppy from the skipper! Shorter in length and outside off, Pant rocks back and punches it to covers where Ben Stokes doesn't get down low to his right and lets it through his hands for a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Goes wider on the crease and bowls it full on middle, trying to really angle it in. Gill shows the full face of the bat and punches it to mid on.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Around the wicket to the left-hander, bowling it full and on off, Pant squeezes it away behind point and picks up a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball on off, hitting the deck this time, rather than just kissing the deck. Gill gets it off the inside edge and in front of square leg for a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Pitches it a bit further up and on off, trying to swing it away. Gill drives it firmly but straight to mid off.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller in length and around off, shaping away a touch, blocked solidly off the front foot.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Shubman Gill making his intentions clear.

There's the bowling change. Chris Woakes (13-2-60-0) comes back into the attack.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Would you believe it? Rishabh Pant plays out a maiden over against spin, that too without even going after a single delivery. This is tossed up full and straight, Pant nudges it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, On the shorter side and around off, Pant lets the ball come on and plays a late dab past the keeper and first slip. 

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Pushed through a tad quicker now and on off, Pant blocks it off again. 

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Nagging length outside off, Pant watches it well and leaves it alone.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Floated up on the fourth stump line, Rishabh Pant gets well forward and blocks it off.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Hard length, on off, straightening down the line a touch, blocked from the crease. A slight confusion there, probably checking the front foot no ball or maybe the umpire wasn't sure if there's one more delivery left in the over. It is a fair delivery and the last one of the over.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Full and wide, Stokes gets the ball reversing back into the batter, but Gill crunches the cover drive straight to the short cover fielder.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, ! Erring in line, easy pickings for Shubman Gill. Short of a good length, on middle and leg, this one slides on and Gill just tickles it down to fine leg for a boundary. Gill moves into the 80s now.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Wide! Too high!

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Good length, around the top of off, defended down the pitch by Gill.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Good-length delivery, angling down the leg side, keeps moving after passing the batter. Jamie Smith dives to his left and pouches it well.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Stokes continues and bowls this one well short and outside off, Rishabh Pant leans back and toe-ends the pull in front of mid-wicket for one.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Darted in at the stumps, on off, Gill defends it off.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, ! Picked up and dispatched! Tossed up too full and on middle, Shubman Gill with a stylish hoick, using the wrists to hammer it wide of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flatter one,l trying to dart it across the batter, Gill blocks it off the front foot.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted, not all that full and turning in from off, Gill lunges and tucks it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, This one is tossed up outside off, SG advances and drives it straight to short extra cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Around the wicket now to Gill. This is flighted up slower and around off, Gill leans on to block.

Change? No, Shoaib Bashir to continue, but Ben Stokes is seen rehydrating, which might suggest a change from the other end.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, slanting the ball back in from outside off, Pant leaves the ball on line.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Shorter one at the batter, Shubman Gill just gets insde the line and angles the pull down to deep backward square leg for one.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Length ball again and around off, tapped away straight to covers.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Rishabh Pant passing on a piece of intelligence to his skipper.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, From round the wicket, shorter on middle, Gill works it off the back foot, behind square for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Length ball angling in on middle, Gill looks to block it. The ball takes the inside half of the bat and goes towards deep fine leg for a single.

Chris Woakes in now seen loosening up. Perhaps, the swing Ben Stokes is getting, is what might force a bowling change.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, A touch quicker and fuller, off break. Rishabh got tricked by the quick delivery. He was in two minds whether to play at it or leave it, as he wasn't sure of the line of that delivery. Eventually he leaves it alone. That went just past the off stump.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full on off, Gill eases the drive to long on for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full and just outside off, given a lot of air, Gill drills the drive to short cover. Ahh, perhaps he wanted a piece of that, but couldn't find the gap.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted delivery on middle, Gill plays the push to mid on.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Under Ben Stokes, England have won 20 out of their 33 Tests and crucially, drawn just 1, amounting to a success rate of nearly 61 percent. He has the best win percentage among all players who have captained the English team for more than 30 Tests.

There we go again. Umpire Chris Gaffaney walks down the pitch to check where Ben Stokes is ending up in his followthrough. No warning as of now.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Full and well outside off, Shubman Gill looks to reach out for it, but eventually doesn't offer a shot.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Back of a length on middle, Rishabh works it off the crease towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Pace off delivery, that ends up in a full toss but it dips on Rishabh as it arrives. Rishabh is surprised by it and eventually somehow manages to get his bat down in time. 

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 2 runs.

Stuart Broad on air observes a big gap between the keeper, Jamie Smith and the fielder at first slip, Harry Brook. Broad opines that it is very unusual to see such a big gap, as the edges usually carry well behind to the cordon. Perhaps, Broad thinks, that maybe, Smith might be comfortable of putting in a big dive, if needed and hence, wants Brook to stand a bit further apart.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full and well outside off, Rishabh Pant doesn't bother playing at it.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Short ball on leg, Shubman Gill plays the pull along the ground to deep fine leg for a single.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, just around off, Gill looks to tap and run towards the on side but changes his mind and sends Pant back.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, on middle, Rishabh Pant works it through mid on for a run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Interestingly, Gill seemingly bats well in the second and third innings but struggles when he gets to bat in the first and fourth. All his Test Hundreds have come when he has batted in the second or third innings. Given that 2025 is a year for changes and Gill has already crossed 60, time for his first Test hundred in the first inning, perhaps?

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Tossed up, off break, well outside off, turning away from the left hander. Rishabh again lets it go.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full again, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Slower through the air, around middle, Pant works it towards short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full, on middle and leg, Rishabh Pant drives it back to the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Length ball on middle, Rishabh Pant works it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single to keep the strike. 

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, ! Rishabh Pant is off and running in the most Rishabh Pant way! Full on off, Rishabh Pant skips down the track and hit it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Rishabh Pant walks out next at number 5, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! BOWLED! Midas O Midas, where art thou? England needed a wicket desperately and Ben MIDAS Stokes has delivered!

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Banged in short, around off, Jaiswal punches it towards cover this time.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, around off, angling away, Yashasvi Jaiswal defends it towards point.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short on off, Jaiswal cuts it off the backfoot to point for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, ! Cut away!

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Outside off, spinning in, Gill lunges to keep it out.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, Shubman Gill defends.

The players slowly make their way out to the middle. One suspects Shoaib Bashir will have to bowl a lot in this session.

... DAY 1, FINAL SESSION ...

If the first session was poor, the second session was worse for England. The pitch being flat and the Dukes ball getting softer can be excuses for the ball not beating the bat - but can never count for not bowling well. Not a single bowler could land the ball consistently in one area and as a result, skipper Ben Stokes seemed to be short of ideas, as he was forced to keep players at the boundary, to cut out the boundaries. And to make matters worse for him, there wasn't any opportunity created

This session has belonged to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Out of India's 123 runs, Jaiswal has scored 58 runs. He started off slowly post Lunch but once he go into his groove, he just played stunning strokes. There was a bit of worry in the Indian camp when he started to cramp but that can happen in humid conditions. At the other end, he found a lovely partner in Gill, who just seems so strong even against the moving ball. The skipper is batting with a strike rate close to 80, and this stand of 123 in a s

India's legends would be brimming with pride looking at the ages mentioned in the previous para. The trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan easily have more than a decade to play and one can just imagine those early 2000s, where the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman used to score hundreds for fun. Not to forget, Rishabh Pant is just 27! So this is a young but strong Indian unit, ready to create an era of their own. Ever since the retirement of Tendulkar

123/0 in 25.2 overs. Phenomenal session for India. They were probably hurt by the late wickets before Lunch and with the conditions getting overcast, things were expected to get difficult in the afternoon session. But a youngster aged 23 and a skipper aged 25 - have taken the bull by the horns and dictated the session on their own terms.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, FIVE PENALTY RUNS!

5 Penalty runs awarded to India.

Has that hit the helmet? Indeed it has! The umpire is just confirming with the third umpire. There is a slight delay as the third umpire is confirming whether the single was completed before the ball hit the helmet. As per the replay, don't think the batters crossed. So the single will be denied and Jaiswal will be back on strike, with the team awarded 5 penalty runs.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short ball, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, angling away, left alone.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Around off, this time Gill pinches a single towards mid off.

Yet another terrific knock for the lad from Mumbai. In a score of 100, he has scored 16 fours and a six - meaning, 70 percent of his runs have come through boundaries. At the same time, he has ensured that he is not just attacking but defending well. A truly superb player for the future.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and straight, YJ keeps it out with a lunge.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Action replay of the previous delivery.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full again, this time Yashasvi is fully forward to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On middle and off, Jaiswal comes half forward to block.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, around middle, watchfully defended.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, CENTURY FOR JAISWAL! Yet another country where Jaiswal has announced itself. Century in the West Indies in his maiden outing. Hundred in Australia in his first Test. And now, a ton in just 144 deliveries in his first Test in England, in overcast conditions. Simply brilliant. Congratulations India, your future is secure. Jaiswal gets to his milestone with a simple push beyond point and for that brief moment, forgets his cramp. Does a David Warner, or nearl

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, MORE! 99 now! Overpitched, outside off, Jaiswal leans and drives it beautifully through the covers for consecutive boundaries!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Four!

More problems for Yashasvi Jaiswal. After playing that previous shot, Jaiswal immediately put his bat down and removed his equipment. The pads, gloves etcc come off 

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, Jaiswal looks to drive it on the up but misses.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Cramp or no cramp, Jaiswal has put that away. He is shaking that hand again, but that was pure class. He is really strong through that off side. Back of a length, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal punches it through point and brings up INDIA'S 200 in the 49th over. Jaiswal himself has moved to 91.

Since 2022, England have played 5 series of 3 Tests or more at home and have not lost a single one. They also have the most home wins in Test cricket in this period -  15 wins with a win percentage of 75.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, hint of turn, Shubman Gill gets a big lunge and lets it go.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, short in length, punched through the covers for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and straight, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

A bit of a halt in play. Seems like Yashasvi Jaiswal is cramping up on his hands and has called for the physio. Jaiswal has been out there for more than four hours and the cramp is normal.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Quicker through the air, 89 kph, Jaiswal works it off the inner half towards short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Fuller, around off, Yashasvi Jaiswal lunges to defend.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Fuller, outside off, moving away, left alone.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, coming in, Shubman Gill hops and works it towards short mid-wicket.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, tapped behind point for a couple.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! THUNDEROUS! He has been itching to go after him, hasn't he? Tossed up, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal gives himself a wee bit of room to the leg side and smashes it straight back over the bowler for a boundary down the ground!

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, looped up slowly towards leg stump, Yashasvi Jaiswal lunges to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, That is a beauty. Every now and then, Brydon Carse bowls a jaffa out of nowhere. On a length, outside off, Shubman gets across to defend but fails to counter the inward movement.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, hitting the surface hard, Gill defends.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A short ball, down the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal rises with the bounce and tucks it through fine leg for a single. Moves to 80.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Excellent running. Brydon Carse is brought back into the attack and he starts with a length ball, around off. Shubman Gill punches it through mid on and Ben Stokes gives it a chase from mid off. Gets to the ball and the batters take the third on the throw.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and around leg stump, Jaiswal defends. A rare maiden for England.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, thrown wide, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to hammer it but mistimes it towards cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On middle and leg, YJ defends with a lunge.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Around middle and leg, Jaiswal lunges to defend it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal drives it back to the bowler.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Another short ball, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal arches back and guides it behind point for a run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A bouncer, but way down the leg side, left alone.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, ! 50 FOR GILL! In his very first match as Test captain and that too, in 56 balls!

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A short ball, outside off, Shubman Gill plays the pull off the front foot, but finds one of the two fielders at mid-wicket.

Shubman Gill has also captained India in internationals before; he captained the Indian T20 team for the Zimbabwe Tour in July 2024, where he won 4 out of 5 matches.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Similar ball, this time the skipper corrects himself and drives it down to long on for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, Shubman comes forward and works it straight to short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Similar lin and length, Gill comes half forward to smother the spin.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, pushed back to the bowler.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Around off, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, EDGED, ! Full, outside off, Shubman Gill looks to drive through the covers but the ball comes in with the angle and takes the outside edge. It goes to the left of backward point and Josh Tongue gives it a chase to the ropes and tries to slide and pull it back, but in vain.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! THUMP! If short ball ploy it is, then attack will be the response! A clear-cut message from the young Jaiswal.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A real effort ball. Despite it gone soft, Tongue uses his shoulders and bends his back, generating extra bounce from a short of a length. YJ is surprised by the bounce and fends it awkwardly towards point.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A short ball, around the rib cage, down the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets inside the line and looks to tuck it away but misses. Josh Tongue shows some interest but the keeper denies having heard any noise. Ben Stokes comes up for a chat regarding the review but does not take it eventually. No conviction from anyone.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Already a victory for India. We now have as many as three boundary riders, two on the leg side alone.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Shorter on off, Gill hangs back and pushes it wide of the short cover fielder for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Tossed up, just outside off, Shubman Gill leans forward and blocks it right under his eyes,

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shorter, around middle, Jaiswal stands tall and punches it down the ground for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. 67/0 in 13.2 overs since Lunch. If the first session was poor, this has been nothing short of miserable so far for England. With the Dukes ball getting softer and not generating any movement, the inexperienced bowling attack is just not able to keep the Indians quiet. Not to take anything away from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who have made merry against some really shoddy bowling. And this is despite the conditions being totally overcast, which means, entirely in England'

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Quality shot.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short again, on off, Jaiswal hops on the back foot and guides the ball to the left of gully. Calls for one and eventually completes it comfortably.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Josh Tongue again short, but the line is well down leg, Jaiswal shoulders his arms to it and leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short ball aimed at the body, Jaiswal ducks under it as he lets it go.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A bouncer, on middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal ducks.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

One of the good things with a fast outfield.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Third boundary of the over! Harmless length ball outside off, enough width on offer. Jaiswal cuts it fiercely past point fielder for four.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Another fine shot. This one off the back foot. Result the same as the first ball of this over. Just short of full, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal hangs back, waits for a fraction of a second longer and punches it through point. Once the ball hits the practice wickets, it just races away through this lightning quick outfield. Jaiswal moves to 61 with his 10th boundary and this stand is also worth 61 (73).

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! GORGEOUS!

Yashasvi Jaiswal has a really good record against England in Test cricket. Prior to this Test, he had scored 712 runs against them in 9 innings at an average of 89, including two double centuries. That average is the best by a batter against an opponent in Test cricket since 2024 (Minimum 5 innings).

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Full on off, Shubman Gill drives it off the front foot to the right of mid off, calls for one and completes it comfortably.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Length ball angled in on off, Shubman Gill stays back and plays the push. The ball hits the bottom of the bat and bounces in front of him.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, around middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal tucks it through square leg for a single.

This might be an understatement, but Yashasvi Jaiswal is now stamping his authority across the globe. 

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball shaping away quite a bit, but the line is well outside off. Gill leaves it alone.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Back of a length outside off, Gill stays back and punches it off the back foot, more of a push than a punch. The ball goes in the gap between short cover and point fielder, who runs behind the ball and cuts it off. The batters complete two runs in that process.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, !  FLAMBOYANT! Overpitched, outside off, swinging away, Shubman Gill leans and drives it gloriously to the left of mid off, getting his 6th boundary!

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, around off, Jaiswal punches it through the covers for a single.

Pressure? Or opportunity? Number 4 is a critical position, especially in England, where the batter gets to play the semi-new ball and also the spinners. For India, that position has given them trouble in the past. In the last series against England, Virat Kohli batted at 4 and averaged 27.66 across 9 innings. But in 2018, that average was as high as 64. In the series prior to that, Kohli averaged 13.4 in 2014 while Sachin Tendulkar averaged 37.28 in 2011. So in adversity, lies an opportunity and

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, angling away, Yashasvi Jaiswal shoulders arms.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Back of a length angled in on off, Shubman Gill punches it off the back foot past point and picks up two runs. 

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That will be FIFTY for Yashasvi Jaiswal!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and sliding down leg, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to tickle it fine and gets some bat on it, the ball goes on the bounce to the right of the wicket-keeper, who puts in a good dive and saves potential four runs.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Still on 49! Length ball on off, Jaiswal tries to play it late and open the face of the blade but can't get it past backward point.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No need for that!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched-up delivery, on off and middle, Jaiswal gets onto the front foot and blocks it to silly mid off.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Pleasing to the eyes! Overpitched on middle, Shubman Gill drives it down the ground, presenting the full face of the bat as the ball goes racing along the ground for four.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball angled in a bit, outside off, and shapes away after pitching. Gill leaves it alone.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Delivered from wide of the crease, fuller, on middle leg, Shubman Gill flicks it soft hands towards mid on and yells out a loud 'NO, NO.'

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Good length, targeting off and middle, blocked off the front foot towards short cover.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Seam-up delivery, pitched up on the fifth stump line and this one nips away nicely. Gill makes a watchful leave.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Short ball on middle, Gill's eyes lit up seeing that length as he goes for the pull, but doesn't get good connection as the ball hits the upper part of his bat and rolls along the ground to deep fine leg. Single, taken.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Angled in a bit, on a fuller length, and straightens after pitching. The line, though, is well outside off. Gill leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short of a length and around off, played off the back foot and just angled down to deep third for a single.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tongue just hasn't hit his mark! Starts the new spell from around the wicket to the left-hander and serves a full toss on middle. Jaiswal clips it away through mid-wicket for a couple of easy runs.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball, moving away, outside off, Gill watches it carefully as he lets it go.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Four!

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Superb stroke! Full and swinging in on off, Shubman Gill skips down the track and drives it down the ground for four.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Oh, that seemed to have straightened, but did it straighten enough?

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Streaky but right in the gap! Good-length delivery, in and around off, the wobble-seam delivery nips away late. Shubman Gill opts to play off the back foot and edges it down with soft hands in between slips and gully for a boundary.

Broady, Broady, Broady!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Length ball on middle, Jaiswal blocks it to mid on.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Back of a length on leg, Shubman Gill stays back and drops it into the ground on the leg side and takes a single.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Length ball on off, Jaiswal blocks it to the right of point and takes a single. Another NO BALL from Brydon Carse!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and swinging in a touch on middle, Jaiswal plays the steer to gully fielder. Ah that was very close to the pads. Jaiswal played it very late. Carse has overstepped and it's a NO BALL!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Half an appeal for LBW, but again, it's going down leg. Nagging length on the pads, shaping in, Jaiswal, for the umpteenth time, plays all around a straight ball and gets hit on the pads.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Back of a length and shaping away from off, Gill stays back and stays compact with punching it away with an angled bat through covers for one. Jaiswal looks for the second but Gill is happy with the single.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 runs.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Similar line, just fractionally short and angled across off. Jaiswal shoulders arms at it.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Just full of a good length and darting it across the left-hander, Jaiswal watches the ball zip past him and through to the keeper.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Too eager there, Jaiswal! Back of a length, over off and middle, YJ drops it besides the pitch on the off side and wants the single. Shubman Gill sends him back quickly.

Jaiswal has scored the most runs among openers in Tests since 2024 and also scored the most 100s among openers in Tests since 2024.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, ! This one does reach the fence.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Short and wide outside off, Gill throws his bat at it and goes for the cut.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, swinging in, Shubman Gill shows exemplary technique and defends solidly.

Another warning.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Back of a length and over middle, Gill gets behind the line and blocks it down the track.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Full and outside off, shaping further away, left alone by SG.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short of a length, darting back in from middle, Jaiswal hops up and jams it into the off side before picking up a quick single.

Might be worth a debate.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, defended solidly.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, moving away off the seam, Gill lets it go.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller, around off, pushed towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Pitches this one right up in the channel around off, begging Gill to drive at it, but Gill gets his front leg across and lets it through.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, A hint of movement there. Good-length delivery, outside off, just curving away a touch. Left alone by SG.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Hard length, banged into the deck and over off, Gill punches it down to mid off.

Meanwhile, in Galle, draw seems to be getting the biggest vote from everywhere.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, 5 runs.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Full and angled into the pads, trying to slip one between bat and pad, Gill flicks it away to square leg.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On the fuller side, slanted in from around off, Gill covers the line and plays it straight back.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, And there is that movement and there is that technique.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Welcome back.

... DAY 1, SESSION 2 ...

Amidst all this, a milestone is on the cusp of getting broken. The catch which Joe Root took to dismiss Rahul was his 209th in Test cricket and he is now just 2 away from becoming the player with the most catches in Tests as a fielder. Rahul Dravid has 210 to his name. And this guy can field anywhere. Give him the helmet and he will come and stand close to the batter. Ask him to stand anywhere, he will take blinders. And with the conditions suddenly getting overcast, he might expect some more s

Talking about England, the seamers were inconsistent with their lines and lengths throughout the session. The inexperience was showing in their bowling, as, apart from skipper Ben Stokes, no one looked threatening. They will do well to admit that they got away with two freebies to get something very fruitful from an otherwise ordinary session. Stokes bowled with purpose and made the ball talk. But even he would not have expected to get a debutant caught down the leg side. Yeah yeah... we all kno

Despite those last 6 balls, India got a massive positive through Yashasvi Jaiswal. Yes, this kid played superbly in Australia against better bowlers but to play against the Kookaburra ball is different and to play against the Dukes ball is totally different. While Rahul was a bit more cautious at his end, Jaiswal was the mixture of caution and aggression, not exactly Bazballing, but doing well to make the bowlers get off their lines and lengths. For example, batting outside the crease and walk

Throughout the session, there was some movement on offer consistently. However, Indian openers negotiated it in a decent manner as they were selective in leaving anything outside off and were going hard at anything overpitched and in their arc. There were a few LBW appeals here and there, but apart from that the Openers didn’t give away anything, before KL played a lose drive and guided one to Root in the first slip. They say one brings two, and that's exactly what happened, as Sai Sudharsa

The 1st session of the newly named Anderson-Tendulkar series is done, and it's safe to say that the series has gotten off to a cracking start. The visitors started well with 91-run opening partnership, but two late blows in the session have allowed England to end the session on a good note.

Ben Stokes to Sai Sudharsan, ! CAUGHT BEHIND! This time there is bat and Midas strikes in the last over before Lunch! Again, not the best of balls to get a wicket but one can understand the nervousness in Sai Sudharsan. Imagine this - you are playing your first Test for your country and are on 0. You then get a juicy half volley, down the leg side. Would you have the heart to let it go or pounce on the opportunity to flick it away and get off the mark?

Ben Stokes to Sai Sudharsan, Appeal for caught behind but the umpire remains unmoved. A nervous start for the debutant. Stokes bowls it on a length and angles it onto the pads, Sai Sudharsan looks to flick it away but misses and the ball goes off the pads. Jamie Smith with a good diving take down to his right.

Ben Stokes to Sai Sudharsan, No run there!

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Drop and run! Hard length around the top of off, Jaiswal pats it down in front of covers and scampers through for a single.

Brydon Carse to Sai Sudharsan, No run.

With around 7 minutes to go for Lunch, Test cap number 357 for India, Sai Sudharsan, walks in at number 3, replacing KL Rahul.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, ! CAUGHT! At long last, England get the opening wicket! A rare mistake from Rahul and it proves to be costly. This seems to be that kind of a pitch where the bowlers might get wickets more because of the batters' mistakes and for the last few minutes now, the hosts have been trying to make the batters play some loose shots.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Full, outside off, swinging away, but pretty wide. Easily left alone.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Bangs it in now and bowls it over middle, getting the ball to angle in with some extra bounce. Rahul hops and does well to just fend it to the on side.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, This one is bowled full and on off, Rahul shows the full face of the bat and blocks it firmly to mid off.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Just back of a lengthy, darted in towards middle, Rahul stays back and blocks it off.

The last 5 Test series results between England and India in England have gone in favour of the home team, with India winning just 1 in 2007. England have won 3 of the last 5 series in the UK with the last one in 2021-22 being a drawn one.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mixup, but safe.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Back of a length, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal punches it straight to gully.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! These two aren't letting the bad balls go unpunished.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bowled full again, this time very straight and Jaiswal punches it back to the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nagging length, pitching on the fourth stump line and just sliding right across. YJ puts his front foot across and leaves it alone.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the best openers in Tests. He is the only opener to have an average of above 50 in Tests since 2024.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, ! FANTASTIC! KL Rahul is in some serious mood as he moves to 42!

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Around off, pushed towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Great stop. Fractionally short, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal goes back and lashes out the cut shot. The fielder at gully springs to his right and gets a hand to it, saving the boundary. Just the single.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Oh, was there an edge? No, there wasn't!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good length, just angling down leg, Jaiswal looks to nudge it fine but misses.

Wow. 9 years!

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, On a length, outside off, moving away, KL shoulders arms.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full, outside off, swinging away, Rahul lunges and takes his bat away.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, On a length, outside off, nips back in sharply, KL Rahul is watchful and pushes it towards gully.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Back of a length and bowled around off, Rahul keeps it down.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Now, a misfield! Ben Stokes targets the pads and slides one in fuller, Jaiswal misses the flick and gets it off the pads to Zak Crawley at leg slip. But Crawley is undone by the bad bounce and lets it through, conceding a leg bye as the keeper goes to collect the ball.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, ! Bread and butter for KL Rahul now. An outswinger, starts on off and moves away, too full and Rahul strokes it on the up through covers and the ball races away to the fence this time.

Jaiswal is known for brute power and has dealt a lot in sixes. He hit 39 sixes in the 2023-25 WTC cycle - the most by any player.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hmm... this seems to be a definite plan now. England have got a leg gully in place and Carse is trying to bowl it down the leg side, aiming to get Jaiswal flick it to that fielder. During India's tour to Australia last year, Mitchell Starc got Jaiswal caught at square leg playing exactly that flick shot. Now, that is another matter, that it was not planned by the Aussies. Full, down the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal flicks it towards long leg for a single.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 4 Leg byes.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Frustrating for Ben Stokes and that is just too full from Brydon Carse. Goes for the yorker again but serves a high full toss around off. Yashasvi Jaiswal thrashes it away in front of point and the ball goes off the practice pitches and into the fence.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Misses out there, does Jaiswal! A juicy full toss on middle and off, Jaiswal looks to hammer it straight back but miscues it.

Dinesh Karthik on air, informs us that the wind has picked up. Might just be a cloud but the conditions have just gotten a wee bit cloudy. Given that the ball is not moving around that much, may not be long before England try their luck with the wobbly seam.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Similar ball, worked off the inner half of the bat again, through mid-wicket, for a single.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, around middle, swinging in, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to play straight. But the late movement takes the ball off the inner half, towards short mid-wicket.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, A short ball, outside off, KL Rahul swivels, gets on top of the bounce and pulls it all along the ground through square leg, for a single.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Length ball on off, KL Rahul defends it into the ground and calls for one. Jaiswal screams out a loud 'NO' and stops KL.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, ! Another boundary in the same region! Full and swinging away, outside off, KL goes for the square drive and gets it off the outer half of the bat as the ball goes through the gap between backward point and gully for another boundary.

Meanwhile, we have an update from the ECB. Jacob Bethell is currently on as a substitute for Chris Woakes. Both, Bethell and Sam Cook are due to leave the squad on Saturday evening, to play in the Championship on Sunday. Jamie Overton is likely to stay with England.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, ! First real error from KL after an hour or so!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, left alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That's good pace.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and outside off, a touch wide, Yashasvi Jaiswal watches it go past. Another case of overstepping pointed out by the third umpire and umpire Chris Gaffaney signals a NO BALL.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, A short ball, outside off, barely rises. KL Rahul has enough time in the world to swivel and pull the ball to deep mid-wicket. Already, we are seeing an in-out field from Stokes.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ahh that has been the problem with England seamers this morning. One or two good deliveries followed by a poor delivery. Back of a length ball sliding well down the leg side. Jaiswal leaves it alone.

Talk about being positive and Stuart Broad will top the list. He is already looking at the average scores on Day 4 and Day 5 at Headingley, citing that the average runs per wicket goes upto nearly 40 on the 5th day,

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, That seemed like a slower ball. On a length, outside off, nibbling away late, KLR lets it go.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full and a bit too straight, KL falls over but manages to push the ball towards mid on.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, A bit wide outside off, Rahul lets it go.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full, around off, swinging away, KL Rahul comes forward and wstchfully pushes it towards point. The third umpire informs umpire Paul Reiffel that Stokes has overstepped and we see the signal for a NO BALL.

Meanwhile, in Galle, Bangladesh have just lost their third wicket. Milan Rathnayake has managed to break the 68-run stand between Shadman Islam and skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, trapping Shadman LBW for a well-made 76. Bangladesh's score now reads 128/3, with the overall lead saying 138.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, No run.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Length ball again. Angling in, just outside off, and moving away after pitching. KL Rahul judges the line carefully as he again shoulders his arms to the ball.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Length ball moving away, well outside off, KL Rahul doesn't bother playing it as he leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That is down the leg side.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a good length, around off, Jaiswal pushes it towards point.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Now, now, now, that is the IPL effect. Have to say, this was a bit needless from Jaiswal, at THIS stage of the game. One understands that he wants to be positive and attack but one should not overattack. A bouncer, around middle and off, Yashasvi Jaiswal ducks but at the last moment, tries to play the upper cut. Nearly guided it straight to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Angled in on a length, sliding down leg, KL Rahul flicks it behind square to deep fine leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Yashasvi Jaiswal had a fantastic WTC cycle from 2023-2025. He had scored 1798 runs in that cycle, second only to England's Joe Root, averaging a healthy 52.9.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Wide outside off again, Rahul will not commit the same mistake twice. That too, in the span of 3 balls. Watches it go past. Not a bad start from England's Midas.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Closer to the off stump, on a length, this time Rahul watches it go past.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Ooohh... nearly a fatal mistake!

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full and swinging away, outside off, KL Rahul leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Ahh! A poor length ball sliding down leg, KL Rahul looks to help it on it's way as he goes for a pull shot, but he doesn't get any bat on it.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Right on the money from Stokes!

Prior to this Test, KL Rahul had scored 614 runs in England - the most he has scored in an away country in Test cricket.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Nicely played again! Too full and straight, KL Rahul just leans on and punches it well to the right of Ben Stokes at mid off. The ball doesn't have the legs to roll away to the fence and Stokes cuts it off. Three taken.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Dragged length, bowling it wide of the off stump, let through to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Pitched-up delivery, honing into the off stump, Rahul blocks it on the front foot.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Length delivery on middle leg, KL Rahul cautiously flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, ! Driven down the ground!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Length delivery, on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal defends it to the left of point and calls for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. The general saying is that the first hour sets the tone for the day. In this case, for the series. India have been positively watchful, not being too defensive and looking to punish the bad balls. It's England who have been impatient. They have not found much swing and when they have, just sprayed it around, not able to control it. Brydon Carse has been the only bowler to put some doubts into the batters' minds and this opening hour has been nothing short of waste by the hosts. No

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Good take from the keeper! Pitched up from wide of the crease and angled well down leg. Rahul misses the flick as Jamie Smith springs to his left and pouches it safely.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Fuller and angled into the legs, KL Rahul drives it straight to mid on.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Good length, on middle, KL Rahul defends it to mid on.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, ! Overpitched and punished! Woakes goes full, in search of swing, the line is outside off, KL Rahul nicely again leans into the drive as he shifts his weight and drives this one through extra covers for four.

We are all talking about India missing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. But what about England? How badly will they miss James Anderson? Already without Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, with due respect, this current attack looks none better than the ones in the warmup games that India faced, with no real threat from any of the bowlers. Have to say, Jimmy would have walked with one leg to lead this attack, if he had not retired.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Put away with disdain! Not quite a half volley but in the zone and on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets on the front foot and shows the full face of the bat before playing a lovely straight drive back past the bowler for yet another boundary. India now 40/0 after 13 overs.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good change-up from Josh! Dug in a bit short and around off, gets the ball to really jump up off the deck. Jaiswal hops up and does well to keep it down on the off side.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Loud appeal for LBW and not given! There is some discussion in the middle between Stokes, Keeper, and the bowler and Stokes decides to go for the DRS.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, From round the wicket, on a length, moving away, just a touch, in the channel outside off. Jaiswal leaves it alone.

Amongst all the grounds in England, the length needs to be the fullest to try and hit the top of off stump. That is why, we are seeing a fair bit of half volleys this morning. But additionally, the bowlers need to be careful to not overdo it, as on a good pitch like this, with the sun beating down, that is a recipe for disaster as the ball will just keep travelling.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Similar line and length to the previous one, this one has a bit more carry as KL shoulders arms again.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Seam-up delivery from Woakes, lands it a bit short of a full length and in the channel around off. Left alone.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Back of a length again, on off, KL Rahul gets right behind the line of the ball and blocks it off the back foot.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

KL Rahul has scored the most runs among Indian openers since 2015 in Tests. Before this match, it read 2803 runs at an average of 35, which includes 14 half centuries and 7 tons. Change of ends for Chris Woakes. 5-1-14-0 so far.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, ! Lovely Shot!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bowls it well short now and wide as well, Jaiswal backs away and cuts it straight to the backward point fielder.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! That one, on the other hand, was asking to be hit!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, And again, Yashasvi Jaiswal getting a bit restless! Not all that short and angled across off, Jaiswal starts to fall back as he looks to thrash the ball away square on the off side and misses.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Good length delivery sliding on the pads, KL Rahul looks to work it behind square, but misses. The ball hits him near the thigh pad region and starts trickling towards deep fine leg. The batters sneak in a leg bye.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Angled in on off, on a good length, KL Rahul defends it to point.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Full toss on off, KL Rahul drives it back to the bowler.

In their first game as an opening pair, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched up 201 runs as an opening partnership against Australia. The first bowling change of the morning and the Test. Josh Tongue into the attack.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ouch! That must have stung Yashasvi Jaiswal!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched-up delivery around middle and at 142 kph, Jaiswal just covers the line and blocks it down the pitch.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ahh... impatience? Or just the modern day cricketer, trying to attack? The second point is not that bad, just that the ball was not too bad either.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, And now, a bit too straight. Rahul tucks it off his hips through square leg for a single.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Too wide again. Landed on a length, but pretty far outside off. Moves away but KL Rahul is in no mood to flirt with that.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched up around off, angling much further away, easy leave this time for Jaiswal.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Just full of a good length and on off, not much swing there, Jaiswal plays it late and nudges it down towards the slip cordon.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Much better. Woakes gets the ball to land around off and makes Jaiswal play at it. Then, the ball moves away off the deck, after drawing him forward, to beat the outside edge.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

A draw in Galle? Well, usually in Galle, Sri Lanka, Test matches don't end in a draw. They give one result or the other.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Well bowled and well left! Good length, in the channel, angling in and then straightening down the line. Rahul plays well inside the line.

Stokes has just given a signal to Josh Tongue, to get loose. Might see him from Woakes' end in an over or two.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Well negotiated!

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, On a length, but wide outside off. The ball pitches and then moves away but is too wide to be played at.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Full and straight, Rahul watches the ball closely and plays it late. Blocks it right under his eyes towards mid off.

The on-air commentators are still not sure about the toss decision. Michael Atherton informs us that on Thursday, there was much more grass on this pitch and a lot of it seems to have disappeared in a day. Additionally, with the sun beating down and the ball not swinging much, this is looking to be a good pitch to bat upon and also, could end up being a good toss to lose.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Excellent ball.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Half an appeal for LBW but it's probably doing too much! Perfect length from Woakes, lands it on middle and leg and gets it to swing back in sharply. Jaiswal once again plays all around a straighter one and the ball thuds into the pads.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prodigious swing this time!

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched up on middle, Jaiswal stands a bit outside of his crease and solidly blocks it off.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, On a length but down the leg side, Rahul taps it in front of mid on and takes a quick single.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, 2 runs.

Housefull. No, not the movie but the crowd at Headingley. Sold out for the first three days, informs Michael Atherton on air. He admits that it is by no means, at full capacity right now, but is confident that as the day wears on, the people will start to arrive.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good delivery! Carse goes fuller and bowls it on leg, getting the ball to swing back in sharply, Jaiswal plays all around it and gets hit high on the thigh pads.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good length, close to the off stump line, going straight on and left alone by Jaiswal.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Played with soft hands! Dragged length over middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets a bit squared up, but tries to defend with a straight bat. The ball takes the outside edge and goes down wide of the slip cordon and rolls away into the fence.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, The length is held back this time, angling away, outside off, Jaiswal lets it pass.

Uh oh... just 5 overs into the match and we already have a warning. A friendly warning, as might be it. Umpire Chris Gaffaney is not happy with the landing area of Woakes and brings it to his attention. Woakes tries to be cheeky and walk past Gaffaney but the umpire calls his name out loudly and grabs his attention. Shows the areas where his followthrough his ending up and asks him to stay away from the danger area. 

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Four!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Full, outside off, a touch wide, let through.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, On a good length, around off, finally some movement for Woakes, KL Rahul stays back and defends it to the off side.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched up, around off, as Woakes searches for swing, but does not get much. YJ leans into the shot and eases this through the covers for a single.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off again, angling away, Yashasvi lets it pass.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A touch short in length, around middle and leg, at the rib cage, Jaiswal tucks it towards the short leg area.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, outside off, moving away, Yashasvi Jaiswal watches it pass.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Full and just outside off, KL defends it towards mid-wicket.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, A bit too straight, Rahul looks to flick it away but misses and is hit on the pads.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, EDGED, ! Oooh... Stokes will be smiling at that. A mistake induced from Rahul. On a length, outside off, just a touch wide, KL Rahul goes for it, without moving his feet, aiming to punch it through the off side but gets a thick outside edge.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, outside off, tempting Yashasvi to drive, he lets it be.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! FANTASTIC! Really easy on the eye.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Confident stroke. Full, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal leans and drives it between cover and cover-point. The fielder gets to it near the ropes and keeps the batters to a couple.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, moving away, Jaiswal shoulders arms.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That is interesting. This is just the 13th ball of the Test match and already, Yashasvi Jaiswal is walking down the track, to counter the swing. Woakes drags the length back though, nipping it back in. Jaiswal misses his tuck and is hit on the pads. Too high.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Good swing, but again wide outside off. Easy leave. Much better over from Carse, as compared to Woakes.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, On a good length, wide outside off, KL Rahul stays back and shoulders arms.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, More swing. Full, outside off, swinging away nicely, but too wide to be played at. KLR lets it go with a lunge.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Oh wow. Very first ball from this end and Brydon Carse gets a lot of swing. Starts the ball on middle stump and then swings it nicely towards off stump, fuller in length. A watchful KL Rahul defends.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! First boundary of the match, but England won't mind that.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Add one more to the left-alones category, outside off.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

The national anthems have been sung and the players march out to the middle again for the highly anticipated Test series and match to begin. Some ex cricketers from England have already named this as a 'warmup' for the 'more important' Ashes later this year, Down Under, earning a lot of criticism from the world.

The players make their way out to the middle for their respective national anthems. Before the anthems, a minute's silence will be observed as a mark of respect to the victims of the Ahmedabad tragedy on 12th June, 2025. Everyone stands in respect. The players are also wearing black-arm bands on their jerseys. Time for the anthems then. The Indian national anthem will be sung first, given that India are the visiting side.

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta with the pitch report. He reckons this is a seamer-friendly venue. He says that there is a good layer of green grass covering. He says the pitch feels a little cold. He mentions that the forecast suggests that the weather is going to be sunny and hot and hence he believes there will be some moisture in the wicket. He mentions that historically in the last 6 games, bowling first teams have won. 

Shubman Gill, India's captain, says they would have bowled first as well as there might be some help initially in the first session. However, he feels that after the first session, it should be a good wicket to bat on with the sun out. On asked about preparation, he says the preparation has been amazing, they have played a few practice games and the squad is in good mental space. He mentions that they are playing 3 fast bowlers and Shardul Thakur. He also says that Sai Sudharsan is making his

England's skipper, Ben Stokes, opts to bowl first. Stokes reckons that Headingley is generally a pretty good wicket. Says that it is the end of June, and for this to be just the 2nd Test of the summer feels a bit weird. On the preparation, he says a few of the lads played county cricket and overall they had a great 3 days of preparation. Informs that the bowling lineup consists of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir and himself.

India (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

England (Playing XI) - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

TOSS - Ben Stokes flicks the coin up in the air and Shubman Gill calls 'Tails.' It lands on 'Heads' and Ben Stokes opts to BOWL first.

7.21 pm IST (1351 GMT) - Well then, we have an update! As per the broadcasters, play is expected to resume in under 5 minutes time, at 7.25 pm IST (1355 GMT), so settle in as we should see plenty of action pretty soon.

7.10 pm IST (1340 GMT) - The live visuals now depict that the rain has subsided completely and the covers are coming off. Not an umbrella in sight and we might have a quick resumption, which is great news. Conditions seem brighter as well. The ground staff can be seen working their magic, but for now, the hover cover is still on, probably as a precaution, given that there might be some more dark clouds coming in. The Indian players can be seen playing a game of 'footy' and look eager to get goin

6.54 pm IST (1324 GMT) - Okay, now this is bad. More covers are being called out now, as the drizzle has developed into a pretty heavy fall of rain. We might have to wait longer than expected now. Former Indian stumper, Deep Dasgupta confirms that there will be a reasonable amount of delay but the good news is that the fourth umpire is in the middle, albeit with an umbrella on.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Well, we will have to wait. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were called to the middle by the umpires but as soon as they came down the stairs from the team's dressing room, the drizzle returned.

... THE SECOND INNINGS ...

The Indian players are practicing their fielding drills at the moment and the hover cover is off again. Now, the Indians get into a huddle and the English openers are called out from the team balcony to bat out in the middle. Given the way India collapsed this afternoon, England would be happy but India will not mind it too much either as their own seamers could make merry in these conditions.

Jaiswal, Gill and Pant lit up the innings with three centuries as England just could find consistency in their lines and lengths. They toiled for the whole of Friday and even for around 90 minutes on Saturday, seemed out of focus. However, as they say, you never know when things can change in cricket, especially in Tests. India were looking at 550-600 around 30 minutes to go for Lunch on Day 2 and suddenly, in next to no time, find themselves ready to bowl, losing their last 7 wickets for 41 r

Scratch that again. The hover cover is back on as the drizzle starts to get heavier. So it does imply that we might have a delayed start to the second innings. A magnificent first-innings score of 471 from India, albeit it has a weird-looking scorecard. Three batters made hundreds, but only one other crossed 15, with 5 batters dismissed in single digits. 3 of those single-digits were ducks under 5 balls, so it has been an innings which has seen contruction as well as a collapse. Yashasvi Jaiswa

That did not last long. England have wrapped up things inside 5 overs post Lunch. They have taken 7 wickets either side of Lunch and from 430/3, India have been restricted to 471. Confusing weather scenes at Headingley, as with that wicket, the roller cover came on but now, it is off and there is no over cover in place.

Josh Tongue to Prasidh Krishna, ! BOWLED'EM! Josh Tongue with a flourish towards the end and he ends up with a four-fer. Tongue goes quick and full and gets the ball tailing back into leg stump. Prasidh Krishna leaves a big gap between bat and pad as he tries to swing across the line and is beaten all ends up. The ball knocks the leg stump out of the ground and India finish with 471 runs on the board!

Josh Tongue to Prasidh Krishna, Length ball on off, looking to shape it away, Krishna hangs back and manages to jam the bat down in time.

Josh Tongue to Mohammed Siraj, Full of a good length and attacking off and middle, tucked away neatly to the right of mid-wicket by Siraj for another single.

Josh Tongue to Mohammed Siraj, Marginally short and angled in from around leg, Siraj gets inside the line to pull but misses.

Josh Tongue to Prasidh Krishna, Good length, honing in on the stumps, Prasidh Krishna jams it down to mid on and scampers through for a single.

Prasidh Krishna is the last batter in, replacing Ravindra Jadeja. Meanwhile, the light has faded once again at Headingley and the floodlights have been switched on to full effect.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, ! TIMBER! Josh Tongue with his third wicket of the game and he's making light work of the Indian tail now, albeit Jadeja is a class batter.

Ravindra Jadeja is in the elite list of Indian allrounders who have scored 3000 runs and taken 300 wickets in Test cricket.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Fuller in length, outside off, Siraj makes a bit of a let leave as the ball too nibbles away late and goes through to the keeper.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Attempted yorker on off, looking to swing it across the outside edge. Siraj manages to block it out.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Wider on the crease, bowled on a shorter length and outside off. This one leaves the right-hander and Siraj ends up playing well inside the line.

Brydon Carse to Ravindra Jadeja, Goes very full now and tries to angle it across off, Jadeja pushes it out wide of covers for a single.

Brydon Carse to Ravindra Jadeja, ! That is a shot! Length ball on middle and leg, Ravindra Jadeja advances, making a bit of room and just punches the lofted drive sweetly and well over mid on for another boundary.

Brydon Carse to Mohammed Siraj, Not what Carse would have wanted on the first delivery. Shorter one at the hips, tucked away down to long leg for a single by Siraj and he gets Jadeja back on strike.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, ! Uh, oh! A rare blemish in the field from Brydon Carse. Tongue brings out the bumper, bowling it over middle, Ravindra Jadeja leans back and firms the pull behind square leg. Carse sprints to his left in the deep and gets there but slips and lets the ball through the hands for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, Bowls it full and around off, Ravindra Jadeja shapes up for the heave but ends up jamming it towards mid on.

Josh Tongue to Mohammed Siraj, Goes for the inswinging yorker but ends up serving a low full toss on the pads, Mohammed Siraj flicks it through square leg and picks up a single.

Mohammed Siraj walks in next, at number 10, replacing Jasprit Bumrah.

Josh Tongue to Jasprit Bumrah, ! EDGED AND CAUGHT! Easy as you like. Josh Tongue pitches the ball up around off and middle, gets the ball to shape away in the air as well. Jasprit Bumrah is drawn into the drive and ends up getting an outside edge straight to second slip. The ball goes into the bread basket of Harry Brook over there and he makes no mistake. Bumrah departs for a five-ball duck and India are now 458/8.

Josh Tongue to Jasprit Bumrah, Length ball around off, angling in and then holding its line, Bumrah presses back and defends it away from the body to cover-point.

Josh Tongue to Jasprit Bumrah, Tickled around the corner. Fuller in length, slanted onto the pads, Jasprit Bumrah misses the flick and the ball clips the pads and goes fine of leg gully and rolls away for four leg byes.

Still no Woakes. Josh Tongue has been given the ball with a change od ends. 18-0-79-1 so far.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Tossed up full and on off, blocked off the front foot by Jadeja. Maiden over!

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, A lot more flight on this one, tossing it up on middle, Jadeja leans on and pushes it towards cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Nagging length, drifted into midle and leg, Jadeja lunges and stabs it down the deck.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Full, around leg, Jadeja lunges a big deal but the ball still bounces and goes off the handle, just wide of leg slip, to his right.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, Around middle and leg, tossed up slightly Ravindra Jadeja drives it back to the bowler.

Shoaib Bashir to Ravindra Jadeja, No run.

Time for Woakes?

Ben Stokes to Jasprit Bumrah, Good length around the fifth stump line, Bumrah presses back and leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to Jasprit Bumrah, A gentle loosener to begin the new session. A length ball, spilled down the leg side.

When you are in England, expect the unexpected. Around 10 minutes back, it looked heavily overcast with the pitch being covered. However, now, though the conditions have not changed by much, it seems to have brightened up and the hover cover is off. The drizzle has gone as well.

... DAY 2, SESSION 2 ...

Meanwhile, in Galle, the fist Test of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh's 2025-27 WTC cycle has predictably ended in a draw. Taijul Islam's 3 wickets gave Bangladesh hopes of a collapse in the Lankan ranks but it wasn't to be. It was a match similar to the ones in the early 2000s, with the pitch as flat as a pancake. Bangladesh chose to bat and made 495 in their first innings, through centuries from skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim while Litton Das chipped in with 90. In reply, Sri Lank

'It has started to rain', quips Stuart Broad on air. Right behind him, we can see the hover cover being placed on the pitch. The main covers are not on yet, as it is just a light drizzle. But as per the rules of cricket, we cannot start unless the drizzle stops completely. It might be possible that the covers might come on as a precautionary measure because there is the forecast for thundershowers right around this time. So maybe, we might have a delayed start to the second session and could pos

Stuart Broad is on air at the moment, we can actually see dark clouds forming in the background. While England will be happy seeing that, they don't want those conditions to stay on for long. Remember, there is someone called Jasprit Bumrah in the opposition who will just be wanting to get that Dukes ball in his hand. So the focus for the home side would be to not let the tail wag with Jadeja and keep India under 475. The visitors, on the other hand, might just come out after the break and go h

And yes, we have not forgotten England either. They are just about hanging in there in this Test, thanks to that last half hour before Lunch. However, the bowling has looked ordinary, with the exception of Ben Stokes, who has been nothing short of phenomenal, and to some extent, Shoaib Bashir, who has made the ball talk. Chris Woakes has looked way below par while Brydon Carse needs more consistency. Clearly, this is not the bowling attack the hosts would have looked for at the start of the

Ah... no, we have not forgotten the skipper. In his very first Test as a skipper, that too, in overseas conditions, Shubman Gill displayed an innings full of character, with exemplary technique. Barely did we see any loose shot played and what was impressive was the way he handled the conditions. Took time to get set, then opened up after getting set. Then, when the ball was reversing on Day 1, he ensured that England did not get any opening and even this morning, did not just throw it away. A

Rishabh Rajendra Pant. This guy is special, isn't he? And how poor is our memory? Just around 3 weeks back, the fans were into Pant's skin, who was arguably having one of his worst IPL seasons ever. And captaincy duties seemed to be taking toll on him. However, change of ball, change of format, change of venue and change of clothing has changed his luck as he played one of his best Test innings ever. Of course, in terms of the match situation, cannot match his 97 against Australia in Sydney in 2

This is the beauty of Test cricket. For nearly 90 minutes into the day, England looked lost, not at all consistent with their bowling, dishing out some pretty loose stuff. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant seemed pretty comfortable at the crease, with the latter going on the attack. Then, on a really innocuous delivery, Gill lost his wicket and all of a sudden, a collapse ensued, which also consumed Pant, who was arguably asked to slow down minutes before his dismissal.

What a manic half an hour. The session reads 95 runs for 4 wickets in 23.4 overs but let's look at it in isolation. The first 16.4 overs, India scored 71/0. The last 7 overs, England picked up 4/24! So whose session was it? Let's call it balanced though the hosts have got some momentum on their side.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, ! EDGED AND GONE! Ben Stokes with a wicket right on the stroke of Lunch once again and India are going down in a hurry.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, Bowled on a length and wide outside off, swinging back in, Shardul shoulders arms.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, Brings out the full and wide one, but bowls a low full toss that just dips on the batter. Thakur, with no foot movement, just tris to drive and gets an inside edge down towards the keeper.

Ben Stokes to Shardul Thakur, Good-length delivery, in the channel, zipping away late, Tahkur makes a leave.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, NOT ! Good energy in the field from Brydon Carse but Shardul Thakur escapes.

Direct hit! England are confident, but so is Shardul Thakur that he has made his ground. Referred upstairs. Sure enough, one replay is enough to confirm that Shardul is well in.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, Oh, that's gone a long way! Bumper from Tongue, banged in around off and Shardul Thakur ducks under it but the ball finishes well down the leg side and Jamie Smith does well to pouch it well to his left.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, Back of a length and outside off, left alone by Thakur.

It seems like we shall be playing till the clock strikes 1 pm at Headingley. Around 4 minutes left for Lunch, but Shardul Thakur is forced to walk out to bat, to play these last few minutes before the break, replacing Rishabh Pant.

Josh Tongue to Shardul Thakur, No run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, ! LBW! Tongue stays around the wicket and hones in on that good length again, but thistime, he bowls it outside off and gets the ball to jag back in sharply. Pant hops across and tries to leave but the ball pings him on the pads. There is a  huge appeal, and given! A big miscalculation from Rishabh Pant and that could be catastrophic. Pant has a long chat with Ravindra Jadeja and does review it, he simply has to review it. The third umpire is called in a

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Around the wicket, bowling it on a hard length and angling it into the pads. Pant looks to tuck it away but misses and gets in the gap between the pad and thigh pad. That will sting a bit.

Ben Stokes to Ravindra Jadeja, Full and straight, defended solidly. Another eventful over.

Ben Stokes to Ravindra Jadeja, On a good length, outside off, jags back in sharply, probably hitting a rough patch, Jadeja looks to defend but the ball shoots up sharply and catches him on the glove.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

At the end of the last over, a message was seen coming out from the Indian dressing room. With Lunch around the corner, one suspects that it might have been along the lines of staying calm till the break, particularly Pant. India are in a very good position, but you don't want to get England into the game by playing some loose shots and losing momentum. The attack can continue post Lunch. But if Pant were to fall now, to his own folly, the hosts might just get a look in.

Ben Stokes to Ravindra Jadeja, Pope flies again! This time though, the ball does not stick in his hands.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Rishabh Pant now has 7 centuries in Test cricket - the most by an Indian wicketkeeper, going past MS Dhoni's 6. He has also gone past Dhoni's 78 sixes in Tests, which means Pant's 79 sixes are the most by a designated Indian wicketkeeper. Overall, Adam Gilchrist leads the pack, with 100 sixes as a wicketkeeper. Amongst Indian players, Pant now stands third in the list of sixes, behind Rohit Sharma (88) and Virender Sehwag (90).

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a good length, outside off, Rishabh Pant pushes inside the line and is beaten.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, On a length, just outside off, RP taps it towards cover and takes a quick single. And tell you what, one of his boots come off!

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Around off, pushed towards cover.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Down the leg side, once again Rishabh falls over but manages to clip it towards square leg.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, A mild LBW appeal, but nothing much in it.

Josh Tongue to Ravindra Jadeja, Full and straight, Ravindra Jadeja pushes it down the ground for a single to get off the mark.

Ravindra Jadeja walks in next at number 7, replacing Karun Nair. Meanwhile, it is Rishabh Pant getting some attention on his lower back. Wonder whether his cartwheeling celebration on his century has got to do something with this. Right all set now, as Josh Tongue gets back to bowl. 16-0-75-0 so far.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Oh my. Full and straight, from around the wicket, Rishabh Pant gets down and across and looks to play the lap shot. But gets it off the bottom of the bat through mid-wicket, for a single.

Ben Stokes to Karun Nair, ! CAUGHT! That is a spectacular catch and it is a heartbreak for Nair on comeback. For the second time in two days, a new batter comes with a few minutes to the break and loses his wicket. But while this is Stokes' third wicket, the credit has to go to the fielder, Ollie Pope. Full and wide outside off, there to be driven. Karun Nair goes hard on the drive through the covers and does not bother to keep it down. It seems like he has got enough elevation but P

Ben Stokes to Karun Nair, Down the leg side, Nair cannot get it away.

Ben Stokes to Karun Nair, Nearly a wicket! On a length, outside off, Karun Nair looks to defend but the ball hits the bottom part of the bat and goes back. Bounces over the stumps!

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, A short ball, outside off, Rishabh punches it through point for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, This one jags back in a long way from around the wicket, Pant is watchful and defends at the last moment.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, ! WHAM! Total shift of gears from Pant.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, outside off, RP leans and pushes it towards cover for a single. Eventful over, could have had a wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, STUMPING MISSED! More rotten luck for England. Flighted, outside off, Pant jumps down the track again and looks to go big, but is not to the pitch of the ball. Misses it totally and in that process, loses control of his bat as well. 

The cloud cover has been building steadily and because of that, the ball has started to move a bit now. There is the forecast of the thunderstorm looming around Lunch time and the atmosphere just about feels a bit heavy.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! WHACK! There goes Pant again! Full, around middle and off, Rishabh Pant gets down on a knee and sweeps it powerfully over square leg! Moves to 124 with his 6th six.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, A short ball now, outside off, carved away to Zak Crawley at sweeper cover, for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, ! WALLOP! Too full by Stokes, nearly overpitched and he gets punished. Outside off, Rishabh Pant powers this down the ground, to the left of mid off.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full, outside off, swinging away, RP shoulders arms.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a good length, outside off, Rishabh punches it straight to point.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, outside off, this time Pant meets the ball, pushing it towards cover.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Karun Nair, No run.

More misery for the England. The last time this man played against them, he scored a triple century. What's coming up this time? Karun Nair walks in at number 6, replacing his skipper, Shubman Gill.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, ! CAUGHT! A wicket out of nowhere and Gill will have to wait for his maiden Test 150. Finally something to smile for the home side.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Short, outside off, the skipper stays back to block it down the pitch.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Tossed up this time. Full, outside off, Shubman gets down to sweep but misses. The ball spins and bounces, hitting Gill on the right glove, before poping up onto the helmet.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Fired in with the arm, around off, short in length, Gill punches it back to the bowler.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, Shubman Gill lunges across to work it away but gets a thick inside edge onto his pads.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full and straight, Rishabh pushes it towards mid off.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around off, Pant swings hard but mistimes it towards mid on. Seems like he is going to go after every delivery now.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Very full, on middle, Gill flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, A wild bouncer, outside off, Shubman Gill lets it pass.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, punched through the covers for a couple.

Opportunities missed? Or sheer consistency? This is the 7th time that Rishabh Pant has reached the century mark in Tests but 14th time that he has touched the 90-mark!

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full, outside off, Rishabh Pant pushes it through the covers for a quick single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted again, around off, Gill leans on to block.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! Rishabh Pant was almost undone there but he does get the six in the end.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Fired in this time, around middle, Pant presents a dead bat at it.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! Rishabh Pant brings up his HUNDRED in the most Pant style possible and he even does a cartwheel to celebrate it. This is tossed up on the stumps, Pant skips down the pitch and heaves across the line, one hand comes off the handle but the ball sails over the fence in front of deep mid-wicket and that is a sensational century. His 7th in Test matches, 4th one against England. Will he now let loose completely?

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Length again, around the top of off, punched away towards cover.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Ooh, extra bounce and nearly carried to Ben Duckett! Ben Stokes hits the hard length and bowls it around off, the ball wobbles away with extra bounce, catching Gill by surprise. The ball takes the shoulder of the blade and lobs short of gully.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Pitched up full and on off, trying to dart it back in, Gill shows the full face of the blade and pushes it straight back past the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, On a good length and outside off, Gill gets a stride across and leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Stokes does go for it! That dipping full toss from Day 1 and even the on-air commentators called it. Slower one, bowled very full on off, but it dips and dips late on the batter. Pant manages to maneuver it away through covers for a single and moves to 99.

DRINKS BREAK. Perfect time for Harry Brook to rush off the field and check whether he has got any swelling or not. The English players are laughing but that was definitely not funny. Even the Indian players look worried in their balcony. Coming to the game, another average hour for England. 53 runs in 13 effortless overs, without any wicket. Without needing to do much work, India are comfortably rolling along, having scored at around 4 runs an over this hour and it just seems like the hosts ar

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Fuller in length, bowled in the channel, Pant watches it all the way and makes the leave.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Oh, deary me! Grip and turn for Shoaib Bashir but it is Harry Brook who is caught in the firing line. Tossed up around off, not all that full. Rishabh Pant leans on to block but the ball turns and takes the outside edge, going down and wide of first slip. The batters look for the single and Ben Duckett picks up the ball running to his right from backward point. He has a shy at the keeper's end but ends up hitting Brook, who is going off the field.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Slower through the air, on a length and drifting into middle and leg, Gill tucks it across to the leg side agan.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted again, this time a smidge fuller and closer to the off pole, Gill prods and nudges it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Nicely flighted, outside off, Gill lunges and blocks it off with soft hands.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Good follow-up delivery from Stokes! Nagging length in the channel, seaming away off the deck as well, Gill makes a watchful leave.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, ! Glorious but it was begging to be hit!

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On the fuller side and pretty straight, Pant leans on and flicks it right off the stumps behind square leg for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Hard length angled in from around middle, Pant pushes it down into the leg side for another dot ball.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Oh, well bowled!

England need some inspiration and once again, skipper Ben Stokes is forced to take the ball. The best of the bowlers on Day 1, the only one looking threatening. 13-1-43-2 so far.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Good length, in the channel, just slanting away, Rishabh Pant shoulders arms at it.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Shorter ine length, quicker too and fired into middle and leg, Pant pulls it off the back foot to deep square leg for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! Wasn't even that short!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Nagging length on off and middle, Pant blocks it off the back foot.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Is the weather changing? Out of nowhere, the conditions have become cloudy. Not overcast as of yet, but a few clouds have hid the sun beneath them. Stuart Broad on air, mentioned this morning that there is a forecast of thundershowers around Lunch time, that is 5.30 pm IST (1200 GMT). Spin for the first time this morning. Here comes Shoaib Bashir. 21-4-66-0 so far.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! The falling lap sweep, a Rishabh Pant special. Tossed up on off, Pant attacks the off-spinner right away by shuffling across and lapping it over the leg slip fielder to find the fence.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Good length in the channel outside off, seaming away slightly, tapped away towards cover-point by Gill. Not the bests of overs, but a maiden for Woakes nonetheless.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Better! Fuller and just around off stump, making Gill play at it. Gill leans on and blocks it off.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, The wheels have come off for Woakes, it seems. Another length ball, well outside off, and going further away. Gill makes another easy leave.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Oh dear.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller, outside off, Shubman Gill leans into the drive and connects well but cannot get it past mid off to his left.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, left alone.

Talking about centuries, England have got one as well. Chris Woakes has become the first to make an entry in that column, having conceded 103 runs in 23 overs.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Good length around leg, sliding on, Rishabh Pant decides to make a leave and the ball thuds the pads before rolling to the on side.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Short of a good length, angling across middle, Pant hops to the off side and nudges it across in front of square leg.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, A quick bumper now, right at the batter, Pant ducks under it.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Down the leg side, Rishabh gets across and tucks it towards short mid-wicket.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Better line. On a length, just around off, Pant pushes at it but misses.

Trouble? Not sure. Shubman Gill has removed his helmet and the gloves. No idea what was that for, because we did not see anyone coming in to give him tablets. On Day 1, Gill took a couple of massages on his lower back.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, ! VIOLENCE!

Compared to Day 1, we are seeing much tighter fields this morning. But the lines have not been all that consistent.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Piling on the misery here, Shubman Gill. Shortish length and outside off, Gill stays back in his crease and gives the ball a tap on the head, guiding it wide of the slip cordon and into the deep third fence.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No ball! Short of a length and outside off, Gill stays back and plays it with the away movement down to the slip cordon. Woakes has overstepped again, he's just not been his old self thus far in this game.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Length ball on the pads, tucked away behind square leg for an easy single.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, NO BALL! Back of a length and outside off, punched off the back foot towards point where the fielder makes a sharp stop. Woakes has overstepped and the third umpire calls a no ball.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Length ball around middle, swinging well across the left-hander, left alone by Pant.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, A length ball, down the leg side, Rishabh Pant tickles it behind square leg. Shoaib Bashir charges onto the ball from the deep and gets to the ball, but while picking it up, takes his eyes off the ball. The batters take the second on the fumble.

Pant has hit 23 sixes against England in Test cricket, the most by him against any team in this format.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Hard length in the channel, Gill stays upright and punches it down into the off side.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Crawley gets a good hand on that one and stops a certain boundary. Short and wide, Shubman Gill reaches out and plays a half-punch square on the off side. The ball rockets to the left of point where Crawley dives and the ball still almost goes through to the fence. Two taken.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Carse continues on a shorter length and bowls it around the rib cage, Pant gets it away down to long leg and turns the strike over.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, A short ball now, Shubman Gill plays a short-arm jab through mid-wicket for a run.

Spark of interest? Definitely not here. England have already become like a team going through the motions. The bowlers are just coming in and putting it out there and it is just all too easy for India at the moment. But there is some spark of interest in Galle. Bangladesh have managed to nip out both the Lankan openers and at Tea on Day 5, Sri Lanka are 34/2, trying to chase down 296. 29 overs left in the day. Can Bangladesh pick up 4-5 wickets and end the match on a high?

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Similar length, on a tighter line around off, Shubman Gill leans right ahead and blocks it back to the bowler. A bit more control shown here by Woakes now.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Pitches this one up outside off, Gill lunges and pushes it away towards cover.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Hard length on off, this one angles back in, Gill just gets inside the line and tucks it to the leg side.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Back of a length, outside off, Shubman Gill defends it down the pitch.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Slightly shorter than the previous one, angling away, Pant steers it behind point for a single.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Full, around middle and off, Rishabh Pant lunges to defend.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Another short ball, another cut, straight to point again!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, WIDE. Maybe Carse saw Pant come down the track and hence, dug it in short. But it is way too short and goes well over the head of the batter.

Rishabh Pant has scored 5 fifties and 3 hundreds against England in Test cricket, the most 50-plus scores by him against any team.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, ! Lovely shot.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, another solid block from the Indian captain. The first maiden of the day.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a good length, around off, Shubman pushes it towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, worked towards short mid-wicket.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, pushed towards point.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller, just outside off, Gill gets a good stride to block.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, Shubman Gill offers a frontfoot defense towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Full, just outside off, RP looks to defend but the ball nips away to beat the outside edge. Just as we say typical Pant, that is typical Carse. Two really good deliveries, two normal deliveries and two really ordinary deliveries. The day he gets consistency in his bowling, he will be a bowler to behold.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Around leg stump, short of full, Rishabh hops to keep it out to the leg side.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around off, pushed towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Four!

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, down the leg side, Pant cannot get it away.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Oh wow. That is Rishabh Pant for you. A length ball, around middle and leg, Pant jumps down the track and swings wildly. Gets a thick inside edge but it goes over the stumps and bounces just in front of the keeper, Jamie Smith.

A disappointing start from Chris Woakes.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and just outside off, a good solid block from the skipper.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Outside off, on a length, punched towards point.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Ben Duckett is called at short extra cover but Woakes dishes out a floaty half volley on the pads. He is lucky to get away with it as Shubman flicks but short mid-wicket dives to his left to stop the ball.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! GLORIOUS! A bit of a loosener from Woakes and it has been put away with sheer class.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

England may not be overly buzzing but their fans certainly here.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, outside off, curving in late, RP shoulders arms and the ball carries at a good height to the keeper.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Ahhh... this one stays slightly low.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Slightly around middle and off, similar length, Pant lets it go.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around leg, angling away, Rishabh Pant drops it down near his feet.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, The first run of the day comes on the very first ball. A short ball, outside off, Shubman Gill gets inside the line and hooks it towards long leg for a single.

All set for Day 2 to begin! The overnight batters punch their fists and stride out to the middle. England make their way out to the middle and have to admit, don't look overly buzzing. But if they have make any sort of a comeback in this series, it has to be this session and in more likelihood, this opening hour. Brydon Carse to start off to Shubman Gill for the day.

As we wait for the first ball of the day to be bowled, let's travel a bit around the world and check what's happening elsewhere. We have come down to the fourth innings of a rather meandering opening Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle, where the Lankans have been set a rather improbable target of 296 in roughly around 37 overs. Highly unlikely that either team will end up winning, with Bangladesh's declaration coming primarily to give their bowlers a run. Amidst the gloom of a draw,

PITCH REPORT - Former Indian stumper DEEP DASGUPTA observes the deck. Looking at the pitch, Dasgupta feels that there is no change from yesterday. Does not spot any ball marks and not much footmarks either. But reckons that the colour of the pitch has changed, as it was a lot greener last morning, while today it is much browner. Deep adds that this colour change means that it will get better to bat and with the sun out, the batters will feast. However, cautioning against some grey skies later in

Let's now have a look at what Indian opener and centurion, Yashasvi Jaiswal had to say to one of the broadcasters at the end of Day 1. Jaiswal says that they all did a good job and it was amazing to go out there and bat and enjoy the English summer. Adds that he just tries to be himself and do his job. Mentions that they had good practice sessions and matches and tried to keep things simple. On Shubman Gill, he says that the way he played was great to watch and he seemed composed.

Surprise, surprise! The live visuals from the ground show that it is a bright and sunny morning at Headingley to begin with. Given the weather forecast, there shouldn't be any disruption in the opening session but in the afternoon, things might change. Let's hope that things remain bright throughout the day and we can get a full day of play in. Stick around as our build-up to the start of Day 2 continues.

For India, the focus will be on extending their formidable total as much as possible, with Gill and Pant looking to build on their strong partnership. Rishabh Pant, in particular, will be eyeing a big score after surpassing his fifty late on Day 1. England, on the other hand, will rely on their pace attack, especially with the potential for more helpful conditions, to rip through the Indian lower order quickly. The battle between India's well-set batters and England's rejuvenated bowlers, under

England's bowlers toiled hard on a relatively flat pitch, managing only three wickets, with Ben Stokes being the pick of the attack. The hosts will be desperate for early breakthroughs on Saturday to prevent India from piling on an even bigger first-innings total. However, the weather forecast for Day 2 at Headingley introduces a significant variable. While Day 1 enjoyed clear skies, Saturday is expected to be gloomier, with a high probability of rain and thunderstorms, particularly in the afte

Hello and a warm welcome to Headingley in Leeds for Day 2 of the 1st Test between England and India. Day 2 is poised to be a crucial one, with India firmly in the driver's seat after a dominant opening day. Captain Shubman Gill's magnificent unbeaten century, coupled with another fine ton from Yashasvi Jaiswal and a gritty half-century from Rishabh Pant, saw India reach a commanding 359/3 at stumps.

... DAY 2, SESSION 1 ...

Just to recap the first day, Ben Stokes opted to bowl first on a sunny day in Leeds, sticking to the norm but with the sun being out for the past few days and no rain, the purchase pacers generally get in the first session wasn't quite there. The English bowlers didn't help themselves either and we rarely saw wicket-taking opportunities being created. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal looked in the correct mindset from the get-go and made sure India got through that crucial first hour unscathed.

A total of 144 runs were scored in that final session in 34 overs, with just one wicket falling, showcasing to an extent the vulnerability of the current English attack, but also the conditions which were contrasting to the ones we generally find at Headingley on Day 1 of a Test match. Shoaib Bashir toiled hard from one end but the pacers simply couldn't make inroads, and there just weren't enough edges that were found. Josh Tongue, in particular, showed his inexperience but Woakes did get bett

A final session that England would have thought about winning, especially once Ben Stokes knocked over the centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal right after Tea, but it wasn't meant to be. The Indian skipper, Shubman Gill, already set, was on a mission and he took complete control once Jaiswal departed. Rishabh Pant has a positive record in England and even after a tough stint in the recent Indian T20 League, Pant was close to his best in red-ball cricket. The two attacked early on but took a step ba

A day that belonged to India, something which not many would have been sure of coming into this 1st Test with the retirement of a couple of batting stalwarts and the captaincy change but it seems like England have found it tougher to replace their fabled pacer James Anderson and the injured duo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, which a talented batting has just exploited.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, From the book of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Woakes lands this outside off and Pant brings his bat down to defend, AFTER the ball goes past.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Full, around leg stump, Pant nearly sweeps this towards deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Landed outside off, steered straight to point.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Six!

One more over? Ben Stokes is seen hurrying everyone around, trying to get one more over and one more wicket before close. His first wish is granted as we will have another over as the clock just about ticks at 6.30 pm local, but the players are already at their positions, so we will have this over. Whether he gets his second wish or not, is something time will tell.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, A beauty to end the over.

Carse is trying his level best to make this the last over of the day. There are still two minutes left on the clock. Might have one more over from the other end.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, Gill plays inside the line as the ball comes in with the angle.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, coming in with the angle but nipping away off the seam, Shubman pushes it towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, A short ball, around off, Shubman Gill defends it towards cover.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Outside off, drives to deep point for a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, Shubman shows the full face of the bat and pushes it towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, Gill looks to defend but gets it off the inner half of the bat towards square leg.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, driven straight to cover.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Brydon Carse to Rishabh Pant, Four!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No ball!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Short again, outside off, this is punched in front of deep point for a couple.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Four!

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Howzzat? Woakes wants the LBW, Smith wants the catch. The umpire gives neither. Bowler and keeper look in unison towards the skipper, who shakes his head. Worth a review, surely?

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, Gill gets across and works it through square leg for a single. Woakes is ready to take his cap back but umpire Gaffaney stops him. The third umpire is in his ear and informs that Woakes has overstepped. NO BALL!

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full, around off, from a bit wide of the crease, angling it in, Shubman Gill gets across and pushes it towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, A short ball, around off, dropped towards point for a single.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around off, angling away, Rishabh plays inside the line and gets beaten.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, ! Oh my word! What was that? Well, Pant can have a laugh about it now but this could have been a very different mood had this not met the bat.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, around middle, Rishabh Pant gets across and defends.

The second new ball is available now. And without any delay, Ben Stokes takes it. Chris Woakes will make the first use of it. 16-2-73-0 so far. Around 20 minutes left for Stumps in this extended period of play, but if India get any loose balls, they will not think twice before going hard at it. This new ball will definitely be quicker and move around, but it is also a double-edged sword as if the bowlers don't get it right, it will travel.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Fuller in length this time, blocked off the front foot.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Flatter delivery on middle and leg, tucked away into the leg side for a run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, A bit slower and straighter, drifting in from middle, Pant watchful keepsit out.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Pant has scored 2 Test centuries in England, the most by him in any away country.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A quick and sharp bumper now, over the batter's front shoulder. Gill leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, ! Makes room and finds the gap! Not all that short and angled in from middle, Gill backs away and the ball doesn't rise up much, allowing Gill to smack it away through covers for a boundary.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A slower-ball bumper now from Tongue, bowled in and around the helmet, Gill slightly ducks under it.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, A duck and a pull, all at the same time, that's Rishabh Pant for you. Short again over middle, Pant looks to duck but knows he can't, so he just swats it at the last moment towards deep backward square leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Short ball over middle and leg, Gill stands tall and plays a controlled pull through backward square leg for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Dragged length on middle and leg, Gill advances and flicks it to the right of mid-wicket for an easy single to end the over.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Fuller one at the stumps, clipped away to mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Marginally short and wide, cut away in front of square on the off side for a run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Tossed up, wide outside off, Pant gets his front leg across and makes a leave.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Flighted up, on a length around off, drifting away a touch as well. Pant blocks it off.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Short of a length, at the bodyline, Pant moves inside the line and goes hard at the pull, mistiming it down to long leg only for a single.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, The ball becoming softer and the bounce on this occasion proves it. Banged in short again over middle and leg, angling in, Pant ducks but the ball barely goes over him.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, The 100-run stand is up between these two with this single. Gill, expecting the short ball, backs away to open the off side but the bowler follows him with the short ball. Gill ends up just jabbing it in front of square leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Oh, you can almost hear Sunil Gavaskar's epic commentary not too long ago in Australia, when Pant played a similar shot and got out. Banged in on a hard length and over the stumps, Rishabh Pant shuffles past the off stump and plays the falling lap, only to miss it completely.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Short ball, banged in over middle, Shubman Gill with a short-arm jab in front of square leg and he picks up a single. A 6-3 leg side field for him now, we shall see plenty more of the short stuff from Josh Tongue to Gill.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

6th Test century for Shubman Gill then. His first as a captain, in his very first inning. It is also his first century in the first innings of a Test. Out of his 6 tons, England have been equal partners, conceding three.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 4 Leg byes.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Six!

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Four!

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

India have had a rough away record, winning just one Test series since 2022, against Bangladesh.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Six!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Four!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Slower through the air, given a bit of air, turning away, outside off, Rishabh Pant shoulders his arms to that one.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Full, on middle, driven down the ground for a run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Around middle, patted down the ground.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Four!

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Outside off, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Ooohhh... nearly holes out!

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, ! THUNDEROUS! Pant finally gets one away, after itching for an age to get after Bashir. Short, around off, Pant rocks back and heaves it through mid-wicket for his third boundary. The stand moves to 61.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, A touch short, around middle, Rishabh Pant defends.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A short ball, around off, defended towards cover.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, shaping in, Shubman Gill defends it watchfully towards point.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Again, misdirected down the leg side, unless this is a deliberate attempt to try and get Pant caught down the leg side. Rishabh whips it towards deep backward square leg for a run.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, Further down the leg side, Pant looks to tuck but misses again. Suspect the ball brushed his pad on its way to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to Rishabh Pant, On a length, down the leg side, Rishabh Pant misses his tuck and is hit on the pads.

Shubman Gill has played 3 Test Matches in England, 2 of which were WTC Finals, but hasn't played up to his reputation yet. He has scored a meagerly 88 runs, averaging just 14.7, with a highest of 28. Josh Tongue returns. 11-0-45-0 so far. He has been quick today, but not necessarily got his radar right.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A short ball, around off, Shubman Gill pulls it through square leg for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full and straight, Rishabh defends.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Around middle and leg, Pant works it towards square leg.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full, around off, Rishabh Pant lunges to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Shortish, around off, whipped straight to short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Shorter and quicker, around middle and off, 94 kph, Gill works it through square leg for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. Finally, an hour of play where we have seen good balance between bat and ball. England have got the ball to reverse which has kept the Indians honest and they have not attempted much flashy strokes. If any, the attack has firmly been against the off spinner but even there, Shoaib Bashir has done well to not be blown away. The session started with a wicket in the second over and then a blitzy shot from Pant for his first boundary, but after that, he has been pretty much circumspec

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, Shubman Gill defends.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Landed outside off, pushed towards cover-point.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, ! Educated edge, they say. What does that actually mean?

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Rishabhh Pant has performed well in England, with even his first Test century coming in this country, in 2018. Prior to this match, Pant had amassed 556 runs at a healthy average of 32.7.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, In the air... safe! 50-RUN STAND! The third one of the innings.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full and around leg stump, Rishabh lunges to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Outside off, a touch short, 93 kph, Shubman Gill goes back and works it through the covers for a run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Outside off, punched down to long on for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Short, around off, Rishabh Pant punches it through point. The ball races through the outfield and once again, Josh Tongue puts in a bizarre effort.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Before this match, Gill had scored 592 runs against England in Tests, the most by him against any team in this format. His 3 fifties and 2 hundreds against this team is also the most by him against any other.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Outside off, Pant steers it through point for a run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, No ball!

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Full, outside off, coming in but shaping away, left alone.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Bye.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Around off, watchfully defended.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Change of angle, from around the wicket, fuller in length, on middle and leg, hint of inward shape, Rishabh Pant flicks it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Hmmm... just before the start of the 61st over, Rishabh Pant was seen telling Shubman Gill, 'BALL ABHI BAN RAHA HAI'.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, A touch quicker, and fuller, Gill eases the drive to short cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Slower and shorter outside off, slapped away to the left of sweeper cover for a couple of runs by Shubman Gill.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, A bit quicker and shorter around off, Gill waits back and taps it wide of first slip.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Oh, sloppy from the skipper! Shorter in length and outside off, Pant rocks back and punches it to covers where Ben Stokes doesn't get down low to his right and lets it through his hands for a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Goes wider on the crease and bowls it full on middle, trying to really angle it in. Gill shows the full face of the bat and punches it to mid on.

Chris Woakes to Rishabh Pant, Around the wicket to the left-hander, bowling it full and on off, Pant squeezes it away behind point and picks up a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball on off, hitting the deck this time, rather than just kissing the deck. Gill gets it off the inside edge and in front of square leg for a single.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Pitches it a bit further up and on off, trying to swing it away. Gill drives it firmly but straight to mid off.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller in length and around off, shaping away a touch, blocked solidly off the front foot.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Shubman Gill making his intentions clear.

There's the bowling change. Chris Woakes (13-2-60-0) comes back into the attack.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Would you believe it? Rishabh Pant plays out a maiden over against spin, that too without even going after a single delivery. This is tossed up full and straight, Pant nudges it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, On the shorter side and around off, Pant lets the ball come on and plays a late dab past the keeper and first slip. 

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Pushed through a tad quicker now and on off, Pant blocks it off again. 

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Nagging length outside off, Pant watches it well and leaves it alone.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Floated up on the fourth stump line, Rishabh Pant gets well forward and blocks it off.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Hard length, on off, straightening down the line a touch, blocked from the crease. A slight confusion there, probably checking the front foot no ball or maybe the umpire wasn't sure if there's one more delivery left in the over. It is a fair delivery and the last one of the over.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Full and wide, Stokes gets the ball reversing back into the batter, but Gill crunches the cover drive straight to the short cover fielder.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, ! Erring in line, easy pickings for Shubman Gill. Short of a good length, on middle and leg, this one slides on and Gill just tickles it down to fine leg for a boundary. Gill moves into the 80s now.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Wide! Too high!

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Good length, around the top of off, defended down the pitch by Gill.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Good-length delivery, angling down the leg side, keeps moving after passing the batter. Jamie Smith dives to his left and pouches it well.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Stokes continues and bowls this one well short and outside off, Rishabh Pant leans back and toe-ends the pull in front of mid-wicket for one.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Darted in at the stumps, on off, Gill defends it off.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, ! Picked up and dispatched! Tossed up too full and on middle, Shubman Gill with a stylish hoick, using the wrists to hammer it wide of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flatter one,l trying to dart it across the batter, Gill blocks it off the front foot.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted, not all that full and turning in from off, Gill lunges and tucks it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, This one is tossed up outside off, SG advances and drives it straight to short extra cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Around the wicket now to Gill. This is flighted up slower and around off, Gill leans on to block.

Change? No, Shoaib Bashir to continue, but Ben Stokes is seen rehydrating, which might suggest a change from the other end.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, On a length, slanting the ball back in from outside off, Pant leaves the ball on line.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Shorter one at the batter, Shubman Gill just gets insde the line and angles the pull down to deep backward square leg for one.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Length ball again and around off, tapped away straight to covers.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Rishabh Pant passing on a piece of intelligence to his skipper.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, From round the wicket, shorter on middle, Gill works it off the back foot, behind square for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Length ball angling in on middle, Gill looks to block it. The ball takes the inside half of the bat and goes towards deep fine leg for a single.

Chris Woakes in now seen loosening up. Perhaps, the swing Ben Stokes is getting, is what might force a bowling change.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, A touch quicker and fuller, off break. Rishabh got tricked by the quick delivery. He was in two minds whether to play at it or leave it, as he wasn't sure of the line of that delivery. Eventually he leaves it alone. That went just past the off stump.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full on off, Gill eases the drive to long on for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full and just outside off, given a lot of air, Gill drills the drive to short cover. Ahh, perhaps he wanted a piece of that, but couldn't find the gap.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Flighted delivery on middle, Gill plays the push to mid on.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, 1 run.

Under Ben Stokes, England have won 20 out of their 33 Tests and crucially, drawn just 1, amounting to a success rate of nearly 61 percent. He has the best win percentage among all players who have captained the English team for more than 30 Tests.

There we go again. Umpire Chris Gaffaney walks down the pitch to check where Ben Stokes is ending up in his followthrough. No warning as of now.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Full and well outside off, Shubman Gill looks to reach out for it, but eventually doesn't offer a shot.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Back of a length on middle, Rishabh works it off the crease towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Pace off delivery, that ends up in a full toss but it dips on Rishabh as it arrives. Rishabh is surprised by it and eventually somehow manages to get his bat down in time. 

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 2 runs.

Stuart Broad on air observes a big gap between the keeper, Jamie Smith and the fielder at first slip, Harry Brook. Broad opines that it is very unusual to see such a big gap, as the edges usually carry well behind to the cordon. Perhaps, Broad thinks, that maybe, Smith might be comfortable of putting in a big dive, if needed and hence, wants Brook to stand a bit further apart.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Full and well outside off, Rishabh Pant doesn't bother playing at it.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Short ball on leg, Shubman Gill plays the pull along the ground to deep fine leg for a single.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, just around off, Gill looks to tap and run towards the on side but changes his mind and sends Pant back.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Fuller, on middle, Rishabh Pant works it through mid on for a run.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Interestingly, Gill seemingly bats well in the second and third innings but struggles when he gets to bat in the first and fourth. All his Test Hundreds have come when he has batted in the second or third innings. Given that 2025 is a year for changes and Gill has already crossed 60, time for his first Test hundred in the first inning, perhaps?

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Tossed up, off break, well outside off, turning away from the left hander. Rishabh again lets it go.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full again, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Slower through the air, around middle, Pant works it towards short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Rishabh Pant, Full, on middle and leg, Rishabh Pant drives it back to the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, Length ball on middle, Rishabh Pant works it along the ground to deep mid-wicket for a single to keep the strike. 

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, ! Rishabh Pant is off and running in the most Rishabh Pant way! Full on off, Rishabh Pant skips down the track and hit it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Rishabh Pant walks out next at number 5, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Ben Stokes to Rishabh Pant, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! BOWLED! Midas O Midas, where art thou? England needed a wicket desperately and Ben MIDAS Stokes has delivered!

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Banged in short, around off, Jaiswal punches it towards cover this time.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, around off, angling away, Yashasvi Jaiswal defends it towards point.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short on off, Jaiswal cuts it off the backfoot to point for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, ! Cut away!

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Outside off, spinning in, Gill lunges to keep it out.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, Shubman Gill defends.

The players slowly make their way out to the middle. One suspects Shoaib Bashir will have to bowl a lot in this session.

... DAY 1, FINAL SESSION ...

If the first session was poor, the second session was worse for England. The pitch being flat and the Dukes ball getting softer can be excuses for the ball not beating the bat - but can never count for not bowling well. Not a single bowler could land the ball consistently in one area and as a result, skipper Ben Stokes seemed to be short of ideas, as he was forced to keep players at the boundary, to cut out the boundaries. And to make matters worse for him, there wasn't any opportunity created

This session has belonged to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Out of India's 123 runs, Jaiswal has scored 58 runs. He started off slowly post Lunch but once he go into his groove, he just played stunning strokes. There was a bit of worry in the Indian camp when he started to cramp but that can happen in humid conditions. At the other end, he found a lovely partner in Gill, who just seems so strong even against the moving ball. The skipper is batting with a strike rate close to 80, and this stand of 123 in a s

India's legends would be brimming with pride looking at the ages mentioned in the previous para. The trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan easily have more than a decade to play and one can just imagine those early 2000s, where the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman used to score hundreds for fun. Not to forget, Rishabh Pant is just 27! So this is a young but strong Indian unit, ready to create an era of their own. Ever since the retirement of Tendulkar

123/0 in 25.2 overs. Phenomenal session for India. They were probably hurt by the late wickets before Lunch and with the conditions getting overcast, things were expected to get difficult in the afternoon session. But a youngster aged 23 and a skipper aged 25 - have taken the bull by the horns and dictated the session on their own terms.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, FIVE PENALTY RUNS!

5 Penalty runs awarded to India.

Has that hit the helmet? Indeed it has! The umpire is just confirming with the third umpire. There is a slight delay as the third umpire is confirming whether the single was completed before the ball hit the helmet. As per the replay, don't think the batters crossed. So the single will be denied and Jaiswal will be back on strike, with the team awarded 5 penalty runs.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short ball, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, angling away, left alone.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, Around off, this time Gill pinches a single towards mid off.

Yet another terrific knock for the lad from Mumbai. In a score of 100, he has scored 16 fours and a six - meaning, 70 percent of his runs have come through boundaries. At the same time, he has ensured that he is not just attacking but defending well. A truly superb player for the future.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and straight, YJ keeps it out with a lunge.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Action replay of the previous delivery.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full again, this time Yashasvi is fully forward to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On middle and off, Jaiswal comes half forward to block.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, around middle, watchfully defended.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, CENTURY FOR JAISWAL! Yet another country where Jaiswal has announced itself. Century in the West Indies in his maiden outing. Hundred in Australia in his first Test. And now, a ton in just 144 deliveries in his first Test in England, in overcast conditions. Simply brilliant. Congratulations India, your future is secure. Jaiswal gets to his milestone with a simple push beyond point and for that brief moment, forgets his cramp. Does a David Warner, or nearl

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, MORE! 99 now! Overpitched, outside off, Jaiswal leans and drives it beautifully through the covers for consecutive boundaries!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Four!

More problems for Yashasvi Jaiswal. After playing that previous shot, Jaiswal immediately put his bat down and removed his equipment. The pads, gloves etcc come off 

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, Jaiswal looks to drive it on the up but misses.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Cramp or no cramp, Jaiswal has put that away. He is shaking that hand again, but that was pure class. He is really strong through that off side. Back of a length, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal punches it through point and brings up INDIA'S 200 in the 49th over. Jaiswal himself has moved to 91.

Since 2022, England have played 5 series of 3 Tests or more at home and have not lost a single one. They also have the most home wins in Test cricket in this period -  15 wins with a win percentage of 75.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Landed outside off, hint of turn, Shubman Gill gets a big lunge and lets it go.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, short in length, punched through the covers for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and straight, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

A bit of a halt in play. Seems like Yashasvi Jaiswal is cramping up on his hands and has called for the physio. Jaiswal has been out there for more than four hours and the cramp is normal.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Quicker through the air, 89 kph, Jaiswal works it off the inner half towards short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Fuller, around off, Yashasvi Jaiswal lunges to defend.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Fuller, outside off, moving away, left alone.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, around off, coming in, Shubman Gill hops and works it towards short mid-wicket.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, tapped behind point for a couple.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! THUNDEROUS! He has been itching to go after him, hasn't he? Tossed up, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal gives himself a wee bit of room to the leg side and smashes it straight back over the bowler for a boundary down the ground!

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, looped up slowly towards leg stump, Yashasvi Jaiswal lunges to defend.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, That is a beauty. Every now and then, Brydon Carse bowls a jaffa out of nowhere. On a length, outside off, Shubman gets across to defend but fails to counter the inward movement.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On a length, hitting the surface hard, Gill defends.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A short ball, down the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal rises with the bounce and tucks it through fine leg for a single. Moves to 80.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Excellent running. Brydon Carse is brought back into the attack and he starts with a length ball, around off. Shubman Gill punches it through mid on and Ben Stokes gives it a chase from mid off. Gets to the ball and the batters take the third on the throw.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and around leg stump, Jaiswal defends. A rare maiden for England.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, thrown wide, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to hammer it but mistimes it towards cover.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On middle and leg, YJ defends with a lunge.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Around middle and leg, Jaiswal lunges to defend it to the leg side.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal drives it back to the bowler.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Another short ball, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal arches back and guides it behind point for a run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A bouncer, but way down the leg side, left alone.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, ! 50 FOR GILL! In his very first match as Test captain and that too, in 56 balls!

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, A short ball, outside off, Shubman Gill plays the pull off the front foot, but finds one of the two fielders at mid-wicket.

Shubman Gill has also captained India in internationals before; he captained the Indian T20 team for the Zimbabwe Tour in July 2024, where he won 4 out of 5 matches.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Similar ball, this time the skipper corrects himself and drives it down to long on for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, Shubman comes forward and works it straight to short mid-wicket.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Similar lin and length, Gill comes half forward to smother the spin.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, pushed back to the bowler.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Around off, watchfully defended.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, EDGED, ! Full, outside off, Shubman Gill looks to drive through the covers but the ball comes in with the angle and takes the outside edge. It goes to the left of backward point and Josh Tongue gives it a chase to the ropes and tries to slide and pull it back, but in vain.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! THUMP! If short ball ploy it is, then attack will be the response! A clear-cut message from the young Jaiswal.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A real effort ball. Despite it gone soft, Tongue uses his shoulders and bends his back, generating extra bounce from a short of a length. YJ is surprised by the bounce and fends it awkwardly towards point.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A short ball, around the rib cage, down the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets inside the line and looks to tuck it away but misses. Josh Tongue shows some interest but the keeper denies having heard any noise. Ben Stokes comes up for a chat regarding the review but does not take it eventually. No conviction from anyone.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Already a victory for India. We now have as many as three boundary riders, two on the leg side alone.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Shorter on off, Gill hangs back and pushes it wide of the short cover fielder for a single.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Shubman Gill, Tossed up, just outside off, Shubman Gill leans forward and blocks it right under his eyes,

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shorter, around middle, Jaiswal stands tall and punches it down the ground for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. 67/0 in 13.2 overs since Lunch. If the first session was poor, this has been nothing short of miserable so far for England. With the Dukes ball getting softer and not generating any movement, the inexperienced bowling attack is just not able to keep the Indians quiet. Not to take anything away from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who have made merry against some really shoddy bowling. And this is despite the conditions being totally overcast, which means, entirely in England'

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Shoaib Bashir to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Quality shot.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short again, on off, Jaiswal hops on the back foot and guides the ball to the left of gully. Calls for one and eventually completes it comfortably.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Josh Tongue again short, but the line is well down leg, Jaiswal shoulders his arms to it and leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short ball aimed at the body, Jaiswal ducks under it as he lets it go.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A bouncer, on middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal ducks.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

One of the good things with a fast outfield.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Third boundary of the over! Harmless length ball outside off, enough width on offer. Jaiswal cuts it fiercely past point fielder for four.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Another fine shot. This one off the back foot. Result the same as the first ball of this over. Just short of full, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal hangs back, waits for a fraction of a second longer and punches it through point. Once the ball hits the practice wickets, it just races away through this lightning quick outfield. Jaiswal moves to 61 with his 10th boundary and this stand is also worth 61 (73).

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! GORGEOUS!

Yashasvi Jaiswal has a really good record against England in Test cricket. Prior to this Test, he had scored 712 runs against them in 9 innings at an average of 89, including two double centuries. That average is the best by a batter against an opponent in Test cricket since 2024 (Minimum 5 innings).

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Full on off, Shubman Gill drives it off the front foot to the right of mid off, calls for one and completes it comfortably.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Length ball angled in on off, Shubman Gill stays back and plays the push. The ball hits the bottom of the bat and bounces in front of him.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, around middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal tucks it through square leg for a single.

This might be an understatement, but Yashasvi Jaiswal is now stamping his authority across the globe. 

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball shaping away quite a bit, but the line is well outside off. Gill leaves it alone.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Back of a length outside off, Gill stays back and punches it off the back foot, more of a push than a punch. The ball goes in the gap between short cover and point fielder, who runs behind the ball and cuts it off. The batters complete two runs in that process.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, !  FLAMBOYANT! Overpitched, outside off, swinging away, Shubman Gill leans and drives it gloriously to the left of mid off, getting his 6th boundary!

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, around off, Jaiswal punches it through the covers for a single.

Pressure? Or opportunity? Number 4 is a critical position, especially in England, where the batter gets to play the semi-new ball and also the spinners. For India, that position has given them trouble in the past. In the last series against England, Virat Kohli batted at 4 and averaged 27.66 across 9 innings. But in 2018, that average was as high as 64. In the series prior to that, Kohli averaged 13.4 in 2014 while Sachin Tendulkar averaged 37.28 in 2011. So in adversity, lies an opportunity and

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, angling away, Yashasvi Jaiswal shoulders arms.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Back of a length angled in on off, Shubman Gill punches it off the back foot past point and picks up two runs. 

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That will be FIFTY for Yashasvi Jaiswal!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and sliding down leg, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to tickle it fine and gets some bat on it, the ball goes on the bounce to the right of the wicket-keeper, who puts in a good dive and saves potential four runs.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Still on 49! Length ball on off, Jaiswal tries to play it late and open the face of the blade but can't get it past backward point.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No need for that!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched-up delivery, on off and middle, Jaiswal gets onto the front foot and blocks it to silly mid off.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Pleasing to the eyes! Overpitched on middle, Shubman Gill drives it down the ground, presenting the full face of the bat as the ball goes racing along the ground for four.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball angled in a bit, outside off, and shapes away after pitching. Gill leaves it alone.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Delivered from wide of the crease, fuller, on middle leg, Shubman Gill flicks it soft hands towards mid on and yells out a loud 'NO, NO.'

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Good length, targeting off and middle, blocked off the front foot towards short cover.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Seam-up delivery, pitched up on the fifth stump line and this one nips away nicely. Gill makes a watchful leave.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Short ball on middle, Gill's eyes lit up seeing that length as he goes for the pull, but doesn't get good connection as the ball hits the upper part of his bat and rolls along the ground to deep fine leg. Single, taken.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, No run.

Josh Tongue to Shubman Gill, Angled in a bit, on a fuller length, and straightens after pitching. The line, though, is well outside off. Gill leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short of a length and around off, played off the back foot and just angled down to deep third for a single.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tongue just hasn't hit his mark! Starts the new spell from around the wicket to the left-hander and serves a full toss on middle. Jaiswal clips it away through mid-wicket for a couple of easy runs.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Length ball, moving away, outside off, Gill watches it carefully as he lets it go.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Four!

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Superb stroke! Full and swinging in on off, Shubman Gill skips down the track and drives it down the ground for four.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Oh, that seemed to have straightened, but did it straighten enough?

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, ! Streaky but right in the gap! Good-length delivery, in and around off, the wobble-seam delivery nips away late. Shubman Gill opts to play off the back foot and edges it down with soft hands in between slips and gully for a boundary.

Broady, Broady, Broady!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Length ball on middle, Jaiswal blocks it to mid on.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Back of a length on leg, Shubman Gill stays back and drops it into the ground on the leg side and takes a single.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Length ball on off, Jaiswal blocks it to the right of point and takes a single. Another NO BALL from Brydon Carse!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and swinging in a touch on middle, Jaiswal plays the steer to gully fielder. Ah that was very close to the pads. Jaiswal played it very late. Carse has overstepped and it's a NO BALL!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Half an appeal for LBW, but again, it's going down leg. Nagging length on the pads, shaping in, Jaiswal, for the umpteenth time, plays all around a straight ball and gets hit on the pads.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Back of a length and shaping away from off, Gill stays back and stays compact with punching it away with an angled bat through covers for one. Jaiswal looks for the second but Gill is happy with the single.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 runs.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Similar line, just fractionally short and angled across off. Jaiswal shoulders arms at it.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Just full of a good length and darting it across the left-hander, Jaiswal watches the ball zip past him and through to the keeper.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Too eager there, Jaiswal! Back of a length, over off and middle, YJ drops it besides the pitch on the off side and wants the single. Shubman Gill sends him back quickly.

Jaiswal has scored the most runs among openers in Tests since 2024 and also scored the most 100s among openers in Tests since 2024.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, ! This one does reach the fence.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Short and wide outside off, Gill throws his bat at it and goes for the cut.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Full, outside off, swinging in, Shubman Gill shows exemplary technique and defends solidly.

Another warning.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Back of a length and over middle, Gill gets behind the line and blocks it down the track.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Full and outside off, shaping further away, left alone by SG.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Short of a length, darting back in from middle, Jaiswal hops up and jams it into the off side before picking up a quick single.

Might be worth a debate.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Full and straight, defended solidly.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, On a length, outside off, moving away off the seam, Gill lets it go.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Fuller, around off, pushed towards mid on.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Pitches this one right up in the channel around off, begging Gill to drive at it, but Gill gets his front leg across and lets it through.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, A hint of movement there. Good-length delivery, outside off, just curving away a touch. Left alone by SG.

Chris Woakes to Shubman Gill, Hard length, banged into the deck and over off, Gill punches it down to mid off.

Meanwhile, in Galle, draw seems to be getting the biggest vote from everywhere.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, 5 runs.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, Full and angled into the pads, trying to slip one between bat and pad, Gill flicks it away to square leg.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, No run.

Brydon Carse to Shubman Gill, On the fuller side, slanted in from around off, Gill covers the line and plays it straight back.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, And there is that movement and there is that technique.

Ben Stokes to Shubman Gill, No run.

Welcome back.

... DAY 1, SESSION 2 ...

Amidst all this, a milestone is on the cusp of getting broken. The catch which Joe Root took to dismiss Rahul was his 209th in Test cricket and he is now just 2 away from becoming the player with the most catches in Tests as a fielder. Rahul Dravid has 210 to his name. And this guy can field anywhere. Give him the helmet and he will come and stand close to the batter. Ask him to stand anywhere, he will take blinders. And with the conditions suddenly getting overcast, he might expect some more s

Talking about England, the seamers were inconsistent with their lines and lengths throughout the session. The inexperience was showing in their bowling, as, apart from skipper Ben Stokes, no one looked threatening. They will do well to admit that they got away with two freebies to get something very fruitful from an otherwise ordinary session. Stokes bowled with purpose and made the ball talk. But even he would not have expected to get a debutant caught down the leg side. Yeah yeah... we all kno

Despite those last 6 balls, India got a massive positive through Yashasvi Jaiswal. Yes, this kid played superbly in Australia against better bowlers but to play against the Kookaburra ball is different and to play against the Dukes ball is totally different. While Rahul was a bit more cautious at his end, Jaiswal was the mixture of caution and aggression, not exactly Bazballing, but doing well to make the bowlers get off their lines and lengths. For example, batting outside the crease and walk

Throughout the session, there was some movement on offer consistently. However, Indian openers negotiated it in a decent manner as they were selective in leaving anything outside off and were going hard at anything overpitched and in their arc. There were a few LBW appeals here and there, but apart from that the Openers didn’t give away anything, before KL played a lose drive and guided one to Root in the first slip. They say one brings two, and that's exactly what happened, as Sai Sudharsa

The 1st session of the newly named Anderson-Tendulkar series is done, and it's safe to say that the series has gotten off to a cracking start. The visitors started well with 91-run opening partnership, but two late blows in the session have allowed England to end the session on a good note.

Ben Stokes to Sai Sudharsan, ! CAUGHT BEHIND! This time there is bat and Midas strikes in the last over before Lunch! Again, not the best of balls to get a wicket but one can understand the nervousness in Sai Sudharsan. Imagine this - you are playing your first Test for your country and are on 0. You then get a juicy half volley, down the leg side. Would you have the heart to let it go or pounce on the opportunity to flick it away and get off the mark?

Ben Stokes to Sai Sudharsan, Appeal for caught behind but the umpire remains unmoved. A nervous start for the debutant. Stokes bowls it on a length and angles it onto the pads, Sai Sudharsan looks to flick it away but misses and the ball goes off the pads. Jamie Smith with a good diving take down to his right.

Ben Stokes to Sai Sudharsan, No run there!

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Drop and run! Hard length around the top of off, Jaiswal pats it down in front of covers and scampers through for a single.

Brydon Carse to Sai Sudharsan, No run.

With around 7 minutes to go for Lunch, Test cap number 357 for India, Sai Sudharsan, walks in at number 3, replacing KL Rahul.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, ! CAUGHT! At long last, England get the opening wicket! A rare mistake from Rahul and it proves to be costly. This seems to be that kind of a pitch where the bowlers might get wickets more because of the batters' mistakes and for the last few minutes now, the hosts have been trying to make the batters play some loose shots.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Full, outside off, swinging away, but pretty wide. Easily left alone.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Bangs it in now and bowls it over middle, getting the ball to angle in with some extra bounce. Rahul hops and does well to just fend it to the on side.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, This one is bowled full and on off, Rahul shows the full face of the bat and blocks it firmly to mid off.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Just back of a lengthy, darted in towards middle, Rahul stays back and blocks it off.

The last 5 Test series results between England and India in England have gone in favour of the home team, with India winning just 1 in 2007. England have won 3 of the last 5 series in the UK with the last one in 2021-22 being a drawn one.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mixup, but safe.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Back of a length, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal punches it straight to gully.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! These two aren't letting the bad balls go unpunished.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bowled full again, this time very straight and Jaiswal punches it back to the bowler.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nagging length, pitching on the fourth stump line and just sliding right across. YJ puts his front foot across and leaves it alone.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is one of the best openers in Tests. He is the only opener to have an average of above 50 in Tests since 2024.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, ! FANTASTIC! KL Rahul is in some serious mood as he moves to 42!

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Around off, pushed towards cover.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Great stop. Fractionally short, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal goes back and lashes out the cut shot. The fielder at gully springs to his right and gets a hand to it, saving the boundary. Just the single.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Oh, was there an edge? No, there wasn't!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good length, just angling down leg, Jaiswal looks to nudge it fine but misses.

Wow. 9 years!

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, On a length, outside off, moving away, KL shoulders arms.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full, outside off, swinging away, Rahul lunges and takes his bat away.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, On a length, outside off, nips back in sharply, KL Rahul is watchful and pushes it towards gully.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Back of a length and bowled around off, Rahul keeps it down.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Now, a misfield! Ben Stokes targets the pads and slides one in fuller, Jaiswal misses the flick and gets it off the pads to Zak Crawley at leg slip. But Crawley is undone by the bad bounce and lets it through, conceding a leg bye as the keeper goes to collect the ball.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, ! Bread and butter for KL Rahul now. An outswinger, starts on off and moves away, too full and Rahul strokes it on the up through covers and the ball races away to the fence this time.

Jaiswal is known for brute power and has dealt a lot in sixes. He hit 39 sixes in the 2023-25 WTC cycle - the most by any player.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hmm... this seems to be a definite plan now. England have got a leg gully in place and Carse is trying to bowl it down the leg side, aiming to get Jaiswal flick it to that fielder. During India's tour to Australia last year, Mitchell Starc got Jaiswal caught at square leg playing exactly that flick shot. Now, that is another matter, that it was not planned by the Aussies. Full, down the leg side, Yashasvi Jaiswal flicks it towards long leg for a single.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 4 Leg byes.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Frustrating for Ben Stokes and that is just too full from Brydon Carse. Goes for the yorker again but serves a high full toss around off. Yashasvi Jaiswal thrashes it away in front of point and the ball goes off the practice pitches and into the fence.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Misses out there, does Jaiswal! A juicy full toss on middle and off, Jaiswal looks to hammer it straight back but miscues it.

Dinesh Karthik on air, informs us that the wind has picked up. Might just be a cloud but the conditions have just gotten a wee bit cloudy. Given that the ball is not moving around that much, may not be long before England try their luck with the wobbly seam.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Similar ball, worked off the inner half of the bat again, through mid-wicket, for a single.

Ben Stokes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, around middle, swinging in, Yashasvi Jaiswal looks to play straight. But the late movement takes the ball off the inner half, towards short mid-wicket.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, A short ball, outside off, KL Rahul swivels, gets on top of the bounce and pulls it all along the ground through square leg, for a single.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Length ball on off, KL Rahul defends it into the ground and calls for one. Jaiswal screams out a loud 'NO' and stops KL.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, ! Another boundary in the same region! Full and swinging away, outside off, KL goes for the square drive and gets it off the outer half of the bat as the ball goes through the gap between backward point and gully for another boundary.

Meanwhile, we have an update from the ECB. Jacob Bethell is currently on as a substitute for Chris Woakes. Both, Bethell and Sam Cook are due to leave the squad on Saturday evening, to play in the Championship on Sunday. Jamie Overton is likely to stay with England.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, ! First real error from KL after an hour or so!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off, left alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That's good pace.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and outside off, a touch wide, Yashasvi Jaiswal watches it go past. Another case of overstepping pointed out by the third umpire and umpire Chris Gaffaney signals a NO BALL.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, A short ball, outside off, barely rises. KL Rahul has enough time in the world to swivel and pull the ball to deep mid-wicket. Already, we are seeing an in-out field from Stokes.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ahh that has been the problem with England seamers this morning. One or two good deliveries followed by a poor delivery. Back of a length ball sliding well down the leg side. Jaiswal leaves it alone.

Talk about being positive and Stuart Broad will top the list. He is already looking at the average scores on Day 4 and Day 5 at Headingley, citing that the average runs per wicket goes upto nearly 40 on the 5th day,

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, That seemed like a slower ball. On a length, outside off, nibbling away late, KLR lets it go.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full and a bit too straight, KL falls over but manages to push the ball towards mid on.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, A bit wide outside off, Rahul lets it go.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full, around off, swinging away, KL Rahul comes forward and wstchfully pushes it towards point. The third umpire informs umpire Paul Reiffel that Stokes has overstepped and we see the signal for a NO BALL.

Meanwhile, in Galle, Bangladesh have just lost their third wicket. Milan Rathnayake has managed to break the 68-run stand between Shadman Islam and skipper, Najmul Hossain Shanto, trapping Shadman LBW for a well-made 76. Bangladesh's score now reads 128/3, with the overall lead saying 138.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, No run.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Length ball again. Angling in, just outside off, and moving away after pitching. KL Rahul judges the line carefully as he again shoulders his arms to the ball.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Length ball moving away, well outside off, KL Rahul doesn't bother playing it as he leaves it alone.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That is down the leg side.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a good length, around off, Jaiswal pushes it towards point.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Now, now, now, that is the IPL effect. Have to say, this was a bit needless from Jaiswal, at THIS stage of the game. One understands that he wants to be positive and attack but one should not overattack. A bouncer, around middle and off, Yashasvi Jaiswal ducks but at the last moment, tries to play the upper cut. Nearly guided it straight to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Angled in on a length, sliding down leg, KL Rahul flicks it behind square to deep fine leg for a single.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1 run.

Yashasvi Jaiswal had a fantastic WTC cycle from 2023-2025. He had scored 1798 runs in that cycle, second only to England's Joe Root, averaging a healthy 52.9.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Wide outside off again, Rahul will not commit the same mistake twice. That too, in the span of 3 balls. Watches it go past. Not a bad start from England's Midas.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Closer to the off stump, on a length, this time Rahul watches it go past.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Ooohh... nearly a fatal mistake!

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Full and swinging away, outside off, KL Rahul leaves it alone.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Ahh! A poor length ball sliding down leg, KL Rahul looks to help it on it's way as he goes for a pull shot, but he doesn't get any bat on it.

Ben Stokes to KL Rahul, Right on the money from Stokes!

Prior to this Test, KL Rahul had scored 614 runs in England - the most he has scored in an away country in Test cricket.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Nicely played again! Too full and straight, KL Rahul just leans on and punches it well to the right of Ben Stokes at mid off. The ball doesn't have the legs to roll away to the fence and Stokes cuts it off. Three taken.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Dragged length, bowling it wide of the off stump, let through to the keeper.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Pitched-up delivery, honing into the off stump, Rahul blocks it on the front foot.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Length delivery on middle leg, KL Rahul cautiously flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, ! Driven down the ground!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Length delivery, on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal defends it to the left of point and calls for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. The general saying is that the first hour sets the tone for the day. In this case, for the series. India have been positively watchful, not being too defensive and looking to punish the bad balls. It's England who have been impatient. They have not found much swing and when they have, just sprayed it around, not able to control it. Brydon Carse has been the only bowler to put some doubts into the batters' minds and this opening hour has been nothing short of waste by the hosts. No

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Good take from the keeper! Pitched up from wide of the crease and angled well down leg. Rahul misses the flick as Jamie Smith springs to his left and pouches it safely.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Fuller and angled into the legs, KL Rahul drives it straight to mid on.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Good length, on middle, KL Rahul defends it to mid on.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, ! Overpitched and punished! Woakes goes full, in search of swing, the line is outside off, KL Rahul nicely again leans into the drive as he shifts his weight and drives this one through extra covers for four.

We are all talking about India missing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. But what about England? How badly will they miss James Anderson? Already without Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, with due respect, this current attack looks none better than the ones in the warmup games that India faced, with no real threat from any of the bowlers. Have to say, Jimmy would have walked with one leg to lead this attack, if he had not retired.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Put away with disdain! Not quite a half volley but in the zone and on off, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets on the front foot and shows the full face of the bat before playing a lovely straight drive back past the bowler for yet another boundary. India now 40/0 after 13 overs.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good change-up from Josh! Dug in a bit short and around off, gets the ball to really jump up off the deck. Jaiswal hops up and does well to keep it down on the off side.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Loud appeal for LBW and not given! There is some discussion in the middle between Stokes, Keeper, and the bowler and Stokes decides to go for the DRS.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, From round the wicket, on a length, moving away, just a touch, in the channel outside off. Jaiswal leaves it alone.

Amongst all the grounds in England, the length needs to be the fullest to try and hit the top of off stump. That is why, we are seeing a fair bit of half volleys this morning. But additionally, the bowlers need to be careful to not overdo it, as on a good pitch like this, with the sun beating down, that is a recipe for disaster as the ball will just keep travelling.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Similar line and length to the previous one, this one has a bit more carry as KL shoulders arms again.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Seam-up delivery from Woakes, lands it a bit short of a full length and in the channel around off. Left alone.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Back of a length again, on off, KL Rahul gets right behind the line of the ball and blocks it off the back foot.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

KL Rahul has scored the most runs among Indian openers since 2015 in Tests. Before this match, it read 2803 runs at an average of 35, which includes 14 half centuries and 7 tons. Change of ends for Chris Woakes. 5-1-14-0 so far.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, ! Lovely Shot!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bowls it well short now and wide as well, Jaiswal backs away and cuts it straight to the backward point fielder.

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! That one, on the other hand, was asking to be hit!

Josh Tongue to Yashasvi Jaiswal, And again, Yashasvi Jaiswal getting a bit restless! Not all that short and angled across off, Jaiswal starts to fall back as he looks to thrash the ball away square on the off side and misses.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Good length delivery sliding on the pads, KL Rahul looks to work it behind square, but misses. The ball hits him near the thigh pad region and starts trickling towards deep fine leg. The batters sneak in a leg bye.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Angled in on off, on a good length, KL Rahul defends it to point.

Josh Tongue to KL Rahul, Full toss on off, KL Rahul drives it back to the bowler.

In their first game as an opening pair, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal stitched up 201 runs as an opening partnership against Australia. The first bowling change of the morning and the Test. Josh Tongue into the attack.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ouch! That must have stung Yashasvi Jaiswal!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched-up delivery around middle and at 142 kph, Jaiswal just covers the line and blocks it down the pitch.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ahh... impatience? Or just the modern day cricketer, trying to attack? The second point is not that bad, just that the ball was not too bad either.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, And now, a bit too straight. Rahul tucks it off his hips through square leg for a single.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Too wide again. Landed on a length, but pretty far outside off. Moves away but KL Rahul is in no mood to flirt with that.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched up around off, angling much further away, easy leave this time for Jaiswal.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Just full of a good length and on off, not much swing there, Jaiswal plays it late and nudges it down towards the slip cordon.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Much better. Woakes gets the ball to land around off and makes Jaiswal play at it. Then, the ball moves away off the deck, after drawing him forward, to beat the outside edge.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

A draw in Galle? Well, usually in Galle, Sri Lanka, Test matches don't end in a draw. They give one result or the other.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Well bowled and well left! Good length, in the channel, angling in and then straightening down the line. Rahul plays well inside the line.

Stokes has just given a signal to Josh Tongue, to get loose. Might see him from Woakes' end in an over or two.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Well negotiated!

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, On a length, but wide outside off. The ball pitches and then moves away but is too wide to be played at.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Full and straight, Rahul watches the ball closely and plays it late. Blocks it right under his eyes towards mid off.

The on-air commentators are still not sure about the toss decision. Michael Atherton informs us that on Thursday, there was much more grass on this pitch and a lot of it seems to have disappeared in a day. Additionally, with the sun beating down and the ball not swinging much, this is looking to be a good pitch to bat upon and also, could end up being a good toss to lose.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Excellent ball.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Half an appeal for LBW but it's probably doing too much! Perfect length from Woakes, lands it on middle and leg and gets it to swing back in sharply. Jaiswal once again plays all around a straighter one and the ball thuds into the pads.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prodigious swing this time!

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched up on middle, Jaiswal stands a bit outside of his crease and solidly blocks it off.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, On a length but down the leg side, Rahul taps it in front of mid on and takes a quick single.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, 2 runs.

Housefull. No, not the movie but the crowd at Headingley. Sold out for the first three days, informs Michael Atherton on air. He admits that it is by no means, at full capacity right now, but is confident that as the day wears on, the people will start to arrive.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good delivery! Carse goes fuller and bowls it on leg, getting the ball to swing back in sharply, Jaiswal plays all around it and gets hit high on the thigh pads.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Good length, close to the off stump line, going straight on and left alone by Jaiswal.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! Played with soft hands! Dragged length over middle, Yashasvi Jaiswal gets a bit squared up, but tries to defend with a straight bat. The ball takes the outside edge and goes down wide of the slip cordon and rolls away into the fence.

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, The length is held back this time, angling away, outside off, Jaiswal lets it pass.

Uh oh... just 5 overs into the match and we already have a warning. A friendly warning, as might be it. Umpire Chris Gaffaney is not happy with the landing area of Woakes and brings it to his attention. Woakes tries to be cheeky and walk past Gaffaney but the umpire calls his name out loudly and grabs his attention. Shows the areas where his followthrough his ending up and asks him to stay away from the danger area. 

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Four!

Brydon Carse to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, Full, outside off, a touch wide, let through.

Chris Woakes to KL Rahul, On a good length, around off, finally some movement for Woakes, KL Rahul stays back and defends it to the off side.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pitched up, around off, as Woakes searches for swing, but does not get much. YJ leans into the shot and eases this through the covers for a single.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Outside off again, angling away, Yashasvi lets it pass.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, A touch short in length, around middle and leg, at the rib cage, Jaiswal tucks it towards the short leg area.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, outside off, moving away, Yashasvi Jaiswal watches it pass.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Full and just outside off, KL defends it towards mid-wicket.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, A bit too straight, Rahul looks to flick it away but misses and is hit on the pads.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, EDGED, ! Oooh... Stokes will be smiling at that. A mistake induced from Rahul. On a length, outside off, just a touch wide, KL Rahul goes for it, without moving his feet, aiming to punch it through the off side but gets a thick outside edge.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On a length, outside off, tempting Yashasvi to drive, he lets it be.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! FANTASTIC! Really easy on the eye.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Confident stroke. Full, outside off, Yashasvi Jaiswal leans and drives it between cover and cover-point. The fielder gets to it near the ropes and keeps the batters to a couple.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full, outside off, moving away, Jaiswal shoulders arms.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, That is interesting. This is just the 13th ball of the Test match and already, Yashasvi Jaiswal is walking down the track, to counter the swing. Woakes drags the length back though, nipping it back in. Jaiswal misses his tuck and is hit on the pads. Too high.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Good swing, but again wide outside off. Easy leave. Much better over from Carse, as compared to Woakes.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, On a good length, wide outside off, KL Rahul stays back and shoulders arms.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, More swing. Full, outside off, swinging away nicely, but too wide to be played at. KLR lets it go with a lunge.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, No run.

Brydon Carse to KL Rahul, Oh wow. Very first ball from this end and Brydon Carse gets a lot of swing. Starts the ball on middle stump and then swings it nicely towards off stump, fuller in length. A watchful KL Rahul defends.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, ! First boundary of the match, but England won't mind that.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Add one more to the left-alones category, outside off.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

Chris Woakes to Yashasvi Jaiswal, No run.

The national anthems have been sung and the players march out to the middle again for the highly anticipated Test series and match to begin. Some ex cricketers from England have already named this as a 'warmup' for the 'more important' Ashes later this year, Down Under, earning a lot of criticism from the world.

The players make their way out to the middle for their respective national anthems. Before the anthems, a minute's silence will be observed as a mark of respect to the victims of the Ahmedabad tragedy on 12th June, 2025. Everyone stands in respect. The players are also wearing black-arm bands on their jerseys. Time for the anthems then. The Indian national anthem will be sung first, given that India are the visiting side.

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta with the pitch report. He reckons this is a seamer-friendly venue. He says that there is a good layer of green grass covering. He says the pitch feels a little cold. He mentions that the forecast suggests that the weather is going to be sunny and hot and hence he believes there will be some moisture in the wicket. He mentions that historically in the last 6 games, bowling first teams have won. 

Shubman Gill, India's captain, says they would have bowled first as well as there might be some help initially in the first session. However, he feels that after the first session, it should be a good wicket to bat on with the sun out. On asked about preparation, he says the preparation has been amazing, they have played a few practice games and the squad is in good mental space. He mentions that they are playing 3 fast bowlers and Shardul Thakur. He also says that Sai Sudharsan is making his

England's skipper, Ben Stokes, opts to bowl first. Stokes reckons that Headingley is generally a pretty good wicket. Says that it is the end of June, and for this to be just the 2nd Test of the summer feels a bit weird. On the preparation, he says a few of the lads played county cricket and overall they had a great 3 days of preparation. Informs that the bowling lineup consists of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir and himself.

India (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

England (Playing XI) - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

TOSS - Ben Stokes flicks the coin up in the air and Shubman Gill calls 'Tails.' It lands on 'Heads' and Ben Stokes opts to BOWL first.