NEW DELHI: Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar stirred nostalgia on Friday with a tweet that connected the current Indian team’s dominant performance at Headingley to one of its most iconic overseas Test wins: the 2002 Headingley Test against England.
After centuries from Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal powered India to 359/3 on Day 1 of the 1st Test in Leeds, Tendulkar praised the young duo, along with KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, for laying a “solid foundation”.
The former India captain tweeted, “India’s batting today reminded me of the Headingley Test in 2002, when Rahul (Dravid), @SGanguly99 (Sourav Ganguly) and I scored hundreds in the first innings, and we went on to win the Test.”
"Today, Yashasvi and Shubman have done their part. Who will be the third centurion this time?" he further added.
That match, over two decades ago, saw India post 628/8 declared, built on centuries from Rahul Dravid (148), Tendulkar (193), and Sourav Ganguly (128). India went on to win that Test by an innings and 46 runs, marking one of their greatest overseas victories.
Now, with Gill (127 not out) and Jaiswal (101) leading the charge in 2025, and Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 65, Tendulkar hinted at déjà vu and asked the question every Indian fan is now wondering: “Who will be the third centurion this time?”
Jaiswal, playing his first Test in England, became the first Asian opener to score a Test hundred at Headingley.
Gill, captaining India for the first time, led from the front with a classy unbeaten ton. The duo added 129 runs for the third wicket after India lost two early wickets, and were ably supported by Pant, who raised the scoring tempo late in the day.
As India look to build a massive first-innings total, the echoes of 2002 are unmistakable, and the stage is set for another memorable Headingley Test.
Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik’s inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 hereThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less