Yashasvi Jaiswal Creates Historic Milestone with Century in England

Yashasvi Jaiswal has etched his name in cricketing history with a feat no batter—past or present—has ever accomplished. Legends like Viv Richards, Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Kumar Sangakkara, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers — icons across generations — never came close to achieving what the 23-year-old Indian opener did at Headingley.

On Friday, in the opening Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Leeds, Jaiswal scored his fifth Test century, his third against England, and his very first on English soil — all in his debut Test match in the country. This makes him the first visiting batter in history to register centuries on Test debut in both England and Australia.

Jaiswal had earlier smashed 161 in his maiden Test appearance in Australia, at Perth, during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Now, with a composed and commanding knock at Headingley, he’s repeated the magic in England.

While Sachin Tendulkar also scored centuries on his maiden tours to both England and Australia, they came in his second and third Tests in those countries respectively — making Jaiswal’s feat unmatched.

He reached the milestone in style — back-to-back boundaries off Brydon Carse in the 49th over followed by a sharp single off the last ball brought up his hundred. The celebration was unmissable: arms raised, roar of elation, a moment of pure joy as he marked another major milestone in his young but already glittering career.

This century adds to his growing list of overseas achievements — he had already scored a hundred on his Test debut in the West Indies. With centuries now in Australia, the Caribbean, and England, Jaiswal continues to prove his mettle in all conditions.

The innings also came at a critical juncture. With stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma no longer in the Test setup, questions loomed over how India’s next generation would fare in tough overseas conditions. Jaiswal’s century was a resounding answer.

Jaiswal, Gill Anchor India After Solid Start with KL Rahul

India were put into bat after Ben Stokes won the toss, and Jaiswal got off to a confident start alongside KL Rahul. The pair made the most of England’s erratic new-ball bowling, stitching a 91-run opening stand. Rahul, who looked in fine touch, was dismissed for 42 after edging Brydon Carse to slip, while debutant Sai Sudharsan fell for a duck shortly after.

Jaiswal, undeterred, found a steady partner in new captain Shubman Gill. The two batted through to tea, building an unbroken 123-run partnership and guiding India to a commanding 215/2.

Gill was assertive from the outset, notching up his fastest Test fifty — an unbeaten 58 laced with crisp drives and commanding pull shots. The contrast between his aggression and Jaiswal’s controlled brilliance highlighted India’s balanced approach.

Jaiswal’s century came off 144 balls and included 16 boundaries — a blend of elegance, patience, and grit. Notably, he showed improved judgement outside off-stump, an area that had troubled him in practice games.

His knock ended shortly after tea when Ben Stokes bowled a stunning delivery that breached his defence, dismissing him for 101. But by then, Jaiswal had already left a historic mark — one that may take decades to replicate.