Leeds [UK], June 21: Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal delivered a brilliant performance on Friday, scoring his maiden Test century on English soil. The 23-year-old left-hander crafted a composed innings of 101 runs off 159 deliveries, decorated with 16 boundaries and a six, on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds.
In a video shared by the BCCI, Jaiswal opened up about his mindset while at the crease. “It is my desire and will to do well. Whenever I come here, these things stay in my mind. I want to do well for my team and my country. I enjoy practising alone and preparing. I keep trying that every ball I play helps me in difficult situations,” he shared.
Jaiswal also spoke about the intra-squad match between India and India A held at Beckenham, where he faced Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana. “There are many moments when we are under pressure. I enjoy the moments I like. For example, we played in Beckenham. Rana was bowling very well. Bumrah was also bowling very well. I wasn’t able to run, but I was playing well. That gave me a lot of confidence and belief. I enjoyed playing and it was good,” he added.
With his century, Jaiswal joined an elite list of Indian cricketers who scored hundreds in their debut Test innings in England, including Sourav Ganguly (131 at Lord’s, 1996), Vijay Manjrekar (133 at Leeds, 1952), Sandeep Patil (129* at Manchester, 1982), and Murali Vijay (146 at Nottingham, 2014).
The match marks the beginning of the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle for both India and England. Jaiswal’s performance further cements his dominance against England. In just six Tests, he has amassed 813 runs in 10 innings at an outstanding average of 90.33, including three centuries and three fifties.
Jaiswal also became the seventh Indian batter to score a Test century at Headingley. This ton is his fifth in Test cricket—and notably, none of his hundreds have come against Asian teams. He has scored centuries in his maiden Test appearances in Australia, the West Indies, and now England.
Three of his five Test centuries have come against England, with one each against Australia and the West Indies. His innings at Headingley ended shortly after the Tea break when England captain Ben Stokes dismissed him for 101.