“WITH GILL AND PANT AT THE CREASE OVERNIGHT, INDIA COULD RUN AWAY WITH THE GAME”: STUART BROAD

Speaking on Match Centre Live after the conclusion of Day 1 of the first Test, JioHotstar expert Sanjay Manjrekar reflected on India’s promising start to the Test series and the broader gains for the team:

“This is something I have maintained about the series — a lot of people keep asking what the scoreline will be, whether India will win or lose. But I have said all along: India has nothing to lose, only gains to make from this series. We have already seen so much on Day 1 itself. Shubman Gill has scored his first overseas hundred of real significance. Yashasvi Jaiswal has shown that he is not just a force at home — he can deliver on English pitches too. KL Rahul looked solid, and now we are seeing Rishabh Pant finding his form again. These are massive positives.”

 Sanjay Manjrekar assessed Shubman Gill’s captaincy and applauded his technical improvements with the bat:

“Let me go right back to when he was made captain — I was against it, to be honest. I felt Jasprit Bumrah would have been the better and more logical choice, without thinking too far ahead into the future. I did not think it was the right decision at the time. But was Shubman Gill going to be a failure as captain? No. Temperamentally, we knew he would not carry the anxiety of captaincy into his batting — that was always clear. The only concern was that he was still evolving, especially when it came to overseas conditions. But today, he addressed key technical areas that had previously stopped him from getting a big overseas hundred. Yes, the pitch was good and the bowling wasn’t too challenging, but once those technical flaws were ironed out, everything else — especially his temperament — stood out as a strength.”

 JioHotstar expert Stuart Broad reflected on England’s missed opportunities and praised India’s disciplined batting performance on Day 1:

“England would have been hoping to pick up five, maybe six wickets on the day — that would have made for a strong start. But the pitch played really well, and the way the Indian batters controlled the tempo was just outstanding. There was that wobble at lunch — two wickets just before the break — which would have given England a lot of hope, and maybe put some pressure on the Indian dressing room. But the way Jaiswal and captain Gill came out after lunch and settled things down in that middle session — when England were looking to strike — was just wonderful batting. It is a young batting line-up, but they batted with real presence and maturity. They judged the tempo brilliantly, made the bowlers work hard, and did not give away any easy wickets. Without a doubt, it was India’s day. They were superb. England will have a lot to think about — there’s pressure now, because if India gets to 550 or 600, the game could be out of reach.”

 Stuart Broad analysed England’s bowling tactics and credited India’s exceptional batting display:

“Some of the shots were just superb. England planned to bowl full, and Headingley is statistically the best venue in the UK to pitch it up. That fuller length brings the slips into play and invites the drive. But the Indian batters did not miss those drives. They timed them beautifully, played them late, and let the ball swing, especially Jaiswal and KL Rahul. When you look at the highlights, it’s just drive after drive, which might make it seem like England bowled poorly, but it was just exceptional batting. The Indian batting line-up read the conditions better than expected and adapted superbly. That’s what you do as a Test cricketer — you think positively, assess where you are, and plan your comeback. The key for England now is to break this partnership first thing tomorrow. With Gill and Pant at the crease overnight, they could run away with the game. England will be eyeing that second new ball early — but no doubt, it has been all India today. A brilliant way for them to begin the series. It was a joy to watch.”

 Catch Day 2 of the first Test of India’s tour of England, today at 3:30 PM, live on JioHotstar