Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his red-hot Test form with a brilliant century against England in the opening Test at Headingley on Friday, June 20. The 23-year-old left-hander brought up his fifth Test ton in style, cementing his status as one of India’s most dependable young batters. Battling cramps and visible discomfort, he showed immense grit at the crease.
Jaiswal’s century – his third against England – was a measured and mature effort, featuring key partnerships that steered India into a commanding position. He first stitched a 91-run stand with KL Rahul, followed by a 129-run partnership with new captain Shubman Gill, who also impressed with his fastest Test fifty. Despite the early loss of debutant Sai Sudharsan for a duck, Jaiswal remained unfazed and anchored the innings with confidence.
With this ton, Jaiswal became the third youngest Indian to score Test centuries in both Australia and England – a feat only previously achieved by cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Rishabh Pant. Tendulkar was just 19 when he registered centuries in Manchester (1990) and Sydney (1992). Pant followed suit in 2018 at The Oval and later scored 159* in Sydney in 2019, aged just 21.
England captain Ben Stokes delivered a crucial breakthrough right after the tea break, ending Jaiswal’s memorable knock on 101. The dismissal came just when India looked firmly in control, having cruised through the afternoon session without losing a wicket. Stokes’ timely strike halted India’s momentum and gave England a much-needed opening in the final session.
Jaiswal had earlier announced his arrival with a sensational 161 in Perth during the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Now, at Headingley, he has added another feather to his cap by becoming the first Indian player to score centuries on debut Test appearances in both England and Australia.
His latest knock adds to an already impressive tally, which includes double centuries in Rajkot (214) and Visakhapatnam (209)* against England. Notably, he now holds the record for the most Test centuries by an Indian in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
At just 23, Jaiswal’s composure, shot selection, and hunger for big scores make him one of the brightest prospects in Indian cricket’s new era.
