Three Remarkable Centuries

For over a decade, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been the pillars of the Indian national cricket team. It's almost unimaginable to think of a Test match—especially against England in England—without either of them. Even when one was missing, players like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara would step up and play key roles. But it's now been a while since BCCI moved beyond that core group. Traditionally, when it came to overseas Tests, names like Kohli, Rahane, Pujara, and Rohit were always in the spotlight.

Now, for the first time, Team India has begun a new chapter in England with a fresh batch of young blood, entirely without those senior figures.

So naturally, fans and experts alike were curious—how would this new era begin? The answer was just as exciting: three brilliant centuries that have sparked fresh hope for the future of Indian Test cricket.

In the ongoing first Test at Leeds, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill scored centuries on Day 1, while Rishabh Pant completed the trio on Day 2. These three centuries clearly signal what lies ahead for Indian Test cricket and who could potentially take over leadership roles.

Coming from a humble background, Yashasvi Jaiswal, with 20 Test matches under his belt, showed once again why he is special. At just 23 years old, he has now scored centuries in both Australia and England—an impressive feat.

Shubman Gill, who took over as Test captain at age 25 and with 32 Tests of experience, justified his selection with a composed hundred on Day 1. Though he had never scored a century on fast and bouncy tracks before, his past opening performances—like in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia—were highly impactful. Gill filled that gap with his century in England, showing that captaincy pressure hasn't affected his performance at all.

The third century came from Rishabh Pant, his seventh overall. Most of his previous centuries were on fast, bouncy pitches. He’s also been dismissed in the 90s several times—around six—but this time, he went all the way and secured another Test hundred in England.

But these three centuries aren't just about stats—they’re a statement. Jaiswal, Gill, and Pant, with their batting performances before lunch on Days 1 and 2, sent a strong message about the new face of Indian Test cricket.

Of course, one match doesn't define everything. India is scheduled to play five Test matches in England over a month and a half. These matches will go a long way in shaping and clarifying what the future of Indian Test cricket looks like.