The opening day of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, Leeds, on June 20, 2025, witnessed a historic moment as the young and dynamic duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul etched their names in the record books. Their remarkable partnership at the top of the order not only provided India with a solid start but also surpassed a long-standing record held by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth for 39 years.
Winning the toss, England opted to bowl first, hoping to exploit the overcast conditions. However, Jaiswal and Rahul displayed exceptional resilience and composure, skillfully negotiating the challenging deliveries from the English pace attack. The pair demonstrated sound judgment outside off and immense patience, capitalizing on any loose deliveries. They steadily built a strong foundation for the Indian innings.
In doing so, Jaiswal and Rahul became the first Indian opening pair since Gavaskar and Srikkanth to achieve a fifty-plus stand in a Test at Headingley. The iconic Gavaskar and Srikkanth had previously set the benchmark with a 64-run opening stand back in 1986. As Jaiswal and Rahul continued to accumulate runs, they surpassed the 64-run mark, establishing the highest-ever opening partnership for India in Tests at Headingley.
The left-right combination complemented each other perfectly, with Rahul unfurling elegant drives through cover and Jaiswal playing with a mix of controlled aggression and solid technique. Together, they constructed a 91-run partnership, characterized by excellent shot selection and temperament. The duo found the boundary 16 times, all through classical strokes through the offside, putting the English bowlers under immense pressure.
Just as India looked set to dominate the session, England struck back, claiming two quick wickets before lunch. Brydon Carse provided the breakthrough, dismissing Rahul for a well-made 42. Rahul edged a wide outswinger to Joe Root at first slip, ending the historic opening stand. Sai Sudharsan, making his Test debut, then fell for a duck, caught behind off Ben Stokes. Despite the late setbacks, Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 44 at lunch, looking confident and assured.
While Jaiswal and Rahul fell short of becoming the first Indian pair to record a century opening partnership at Headingley, their achievement was significant. Their 91-run stand is now the highest opening partnership for India in Tests at this venue, surpassing the previous record of 64 runs held by Gavaskar and Srikkanth. The duo's performance ended a 12-year wait for a 50+ stand by a visiting pair at Leeds in the first innings.
The strong start provided by Jaiswal and Rahul set the stage for India's dominant performance on the opening day. Shubman Gill, the captain, then took charge. Gill became the youngest Indian player to captain in the Test match since 2000. Jaiswal went on to score a century, his 5th in Test cricket, while Gill remained unbeaten on 127, his 6th Test hundred. Rishabh Pant also contributed with a superb unbeaten half-century, as India reached 359-3 at Stumps.
