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.
