NEW DELHI: In a wave of nostalgia that has gripped Indian cricket fans, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar drew parallels between India’s commanding Day 1 performance at Headingley in 2025 and one of the team’s most celebrated overseas triumphs—the 2002 Headingley Test against England. Tendulkar’s heartfelt tweet not only praised the current crop of Indian stars but also left fans pondering a tantalizing question: Who will be the third centurion this time?
The stage at Headingley is set for another historic chapter as India ended Day 1 of the 1st Test in Leeds at a commanding 359/3. Centuries from young sensations Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and stand-in captain Shubman Gill (127 not out) powered India to a position of dominance, with Rishabh Pant (65 not out) adding flair to the late surge. Tendulkar, reflecting on the day’s play, 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?”
The 2002 Headingley Test remains etched in Indian cricket lore as a defining moment. Under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, India amassed a mammoth 628/8 declared in the first innings, built on superlative centuries by Rahul Dravid (148), Tendulkar himself (193), and Ganguly (128). That monumental total paved the way for a crushing victory by an innings and 46 runs, a rare feat on English soil and a testament to India’s growing prowess overseas. The echoes of that triumph reverberate now, as the 2025 team mirrors that aggressive intent and hunger for runs.
Day 1 of the current Test was a showcase of India’s burgeoning batting depth. Yashasvi Jaiswal, in his maiden Test appearance in England, scripted history by becoming the first Asian opener to score a Test hundred at Headingley. His gritty 101 was a masterclass in adapting to challenging conditions, with overcast skies and a seam-friendly pitch testing the mettle of the Indian top order. Shubman Gill, donning the captain’s hat for the first time in Tests, led by example with an unbeaten 127, blending elegance with steely resolve. The duo’s 129-run partnership for the third wicket steadied India after early losses, while Pant’s explosive unbeaten 65 injected momentum, raising hopes of a 2002-style mammoth total.
As the curtains fell on Day 1, Tendulkar’s question looms large. Will it be the dynamic Pant, who is already halfway to a ton, or perhaps KL Rahul, who looked composed before falling short of a big score? The Indian dressing room, buzzing with talent and intent, has a golden opportunity to emulate the heroes of 2002. With two days of batting-friendly conditions forecasted at Headingley, the stage is set for someone to step up and etch their name alongside Jaiswal and Gill in this Test’s legacy.
For Indian fans, the parallels between 2002 and 2025 are uncanny and exhilarating. Back then, it was the ‘Fab Three’ of Dravid, Tendulkar, and Ganguly who dismantled England; today, a new generation is scripting its own saga. As Tendulkar’s words fuel speculation, one thing is clear—Headingley is witnessing the makings of another unforgettable Indian victory. So, who will it be? The answer awaits on Day 2, as India aims to turn dominance into a crushing triumph once more.