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Shubman Gill. (Photo source: BCCI)

Batting star Shubman Gill walked out at Headingley as India’s youngest full-time Test captain in nearly two decades, and walked back to a standing ovation after hammering 147 off 227 deliveries in the first Test of the five-match series.

Having been handed captaincy duties, Gill put up a solid performance on Day 1 of the game. After being put into bat first, India finished the day on 359/3 with Gill unbeaten on 127 and vice-captain Rishabh Pant on 65. However, on the following day, he could add just 20 runs to his overnight score and fall just short of his maiden 150.

His 227-ball stay was laced with 19 exquisite boundaries and a six. The youngster shared important partnerships through the innings, a 129-run stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and a spectacular 209-run fourth-wicket partnership with Pant. 

But just as he came close for a possible 150, Gill fell after coming down the track to off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, and hit straight to Josh Tongue at deep backward square. His exit saw the arrival of Karun Nair, who was making a return to the Test XI after eight years. However, Nair departed for a four-ball duck, courtesy of a stunning catch by Ollie Pope at short extra cover. The visitors' scorecard read 454/7 at Lunch.