Jaiswal reveals his mantra after slamming century on Day 1 of Headingley Test: 'If there is a loose ball...'

Yashasvi Jaiswal appeared to have carried on from where he had left off against England at home last year, smashing a century on the opening day of the first Test against Ben Stokes’ men at Headingley on Friday. Jaiswal made his first appearance on English soil on Friday but appeared to have years of experience in these conditions under his belt with his knock of 101 off 159 balls , which contained 16 fours and a six.

Jaiswal credits ‘very good practice sessions’

And in an interview with Sky Sports after stumps, the Mumbai batter revealed “good practice sessions” and keeping things simple helped him get his maiden tour of England off to an ideal start.

“It was very, very good and we all did very well today. It was amazing to go out there and bat. Enjoyed the English summer as well. Very happy. I just try to be myself and try to go out there and enjoy the game and prepare really well. That’s what I do all the time,” the Rajasthan Royals opener told Ian Ward and Ravi Shastri after close of play.

“We had very good practice sessions and before few weeks and we were trying to make it as simple as possible and try to play within an area. If there is a loose ball, I always believe that we need to go for it, and I really enjoyed it,” added Jaiswal, who has been India’s designated Test opener since making his debut in 2023.

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Jaiswal, who had scored a whopping 712 runs in the five-Test series against England at home last year, got India off to an ideal start with a 91-run opening stand with KL Rahul. He later stitched a 129-run partnership with Shubman Gill, who also brought up a century and remained unbeaten on 127 at close of play in his maiden outing as India Test skipper.

“Of course. He played amazingly. I think the way he was, he was very composed and calm all the time. I think he batted very, very well,” Jaiswal added during the chat after stumps, heaping praise on Gill.

Thanks to Gill and Jaiswal’s tons as well as vice-captain Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 65, India ended the opening day of the Headingley Test on a dominant 359/3 after 85 overs.