'We have already seen so much on Day 1 itself' - Sanjay Manjrekar impressed by India batters in Headingley Test

After a solid start to the first Test by India against England, Sanjay Manjrekar was massively impressed with the way the visitors carried out the things on the entire day and eventually dominating the Ben Stokes-led side despite helpful conditions for seamers at the Headingley ground in Leeds. A day where two of India's youngest stars - Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and Shubman Gill (127*), scored magnificent centuries, saw India post 359-3 at Stumps.

Manjrekar expressed his views on India’s positive start to the five-match series and how it helped the visitors be in the driver's seat on the opening day of the first Test. Gill, who scored his first-ever overseas century in his maiden outing as India's Test captain, was praised by Manjrekar for overcoming his flaws in his batting technique and shine the brightest for his side on Day 1.

“This is something I have maintained about the series — a lot of people keep asking what the scoreline will be, whether India will win or lose. But I have said all along: India has nothing to lose, only gains to make from this series. We have already seen so much on Day 1 itself. Shubman Gill has scored his first overseas hundred of real significance. Yashasvi Jaiswal has shown that he is not just a force at home — he can deliver on English pitches too. KL Rahul looked solid, and now we are seeing Rishabh Pant finding his form again. These are massive positives,” Manjrekar told on JioHotstar's Match Centre Live. 

Was against Gill being made Test captain over Bumrah: Manjrekar

The former Mumbai batter further noted that when Gill was first made the Test captain, he felt that ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah was a far better choice given he vice-captained India during Rohit Sharma's tenure, and even led in the latter's absence during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia. However, Manjrekar also mentioned that Gill's temperament allows him to bat freely and not think much of leadership, which helped him succeed.

"Let me go right back to when he was made captain — I was against it, to be honest. I felt Jasprit Bumrah would have been the better and more logical choice, without thinking too far ahead into the future. I did not think it was the right decision at the time. But was Shubman Gill going to be a failure as captain? No. Temperamentally, we knew he would not carry the anxiety of captaincy into his batting — that was always clear.

The only concern was that he was still evolving, especially when it came to overseas conditions. But today, he addressed key technical areas that had previously stopped him from getting a big overseas hundred. Yes, the pitch was good, and the bowling wasn’t too challenging, but once those technical flaws were ironed out, everything else — especially his temperament — stood out as a strength," he concluded.

Jaiswal's defence and counterattack impresses Manjrekar

Manjrekar also opened up to share his take on how Yashasvi Jaiswal set the platform for the middle-order to bat more freely and enjoy their time out in the middle. Jaiswal's century was important as India had lost a couple of quick wickets on the stroke of Lunch, but the opener managed to put up an important partnership with skipper Gill and pull India out from a spot of bother.

“This performance doesn’t surprise me at all. Jaiswal was India’s best batter in Australia. He was the only one consistent throughout the series, showing a solid defensive technique—playing close to the body, going deep in the crease, and handling anything pitched up, especially from someone like Mitchell Starc. He knows his Test game well. Once he’s set, you’ll see the big shots too. Very organised. He’s a modern-day player, and among India’s top 7, you’ll find more like him. Unfortunately, Sai Sudharsan is out, but you would’ve seen the same solid batting mechanism in him too. These players have solid Test match techniques,” Manjrekar said.

The Day 2 of the Test will see Gill and Pant resume their batting, who will be trusting on the Headingley surface to get the side to a good total, post which the bowlers will have to be at their best to gain a lead over England in the game.