Gill and Jaiswal’s Historic Stand Ignites Hope. But Can India’s Heirs Outlast England’s Onslaught—and Escape the Shadows of Giants?

The hallowed turf of Headingley has witnessed cricket revolutions before – Botham’s Ashes, Stokes’ Miracle. On June 20, 2025, under a searing Yorkshire sun, it may have birthed another. Shubman Gill, 25, India’s youngest-ever Test captain, raised his bat not merely to celebrate a century, but to herald a new epoch. Beside him, Yashasvi Jaiswal, 23, lay sprawled in agony and ecstasy – his forearms locked in cramps, his name etched into history as the first batter to score debut Test tons in Australia, the Caribbean, and England. Their twin monuments – Gill’s regal 127*, Jaiswal’s grit-soaked 101 – propelled India to 359/3 on Day One against a depleted England. A nation braced for post-Kohli oblivion instead saw its future blaze to life. But cricket’s cruel poetry demands a second act: Can these crown princes convert a glorious dawn into an enduring reign?

The Coronation and the Crucible

Gill’s ascension was inevitable yet perilous. He stepped into a vacuum left by titans – Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R. Ashwin – retired; the World Test Championship mace, slipped from Indian grasp weeks prior. Critics whispered: too young, too untested overseas (average: 35 outside Asia). His answer was a masterclass in leadership alchemy. Eschewing flamboyance for frosty control, he deflected 17 deliveries to third man – a tactical sieve draining England’s hope. In joining Hazare, Gavaskar, and Kohli as centurion captains on debut, Gill didn’t just score runs; he authored a manifesto.

Jaiswal’s saga was raw theater. England bombarded his ribs with 24 bodyline deliveries in 92 balls. He retreated, recalibrated, then revolted – 88% of his runs scorching through the off side, a defiant rebuke to his tormentors. His century, completed through trembling cramps, wasn’t just runs; it was a generational statement of resilience. “He doesn’t just have talent,” observed Rahul Dravid. “He has the mind of a hunter.”

The Delicious Weight of Suddenly Soaring Hope

This was no mere strong start; it was narrative alchemy. India arrived braced for transition trauma – visions of 2014’s 1-3 drubbing haunting memory. Instead, Gill and Jaiswal transmuted dread into delirium. That colossal 359/3 didn’t merely dominate a day; it shattered psychological barriers. The question shifted overnight from “Can they survive?” to “Can they conquer?” Two Test wins in England – once a pipe dream for this callow squad – now feels like the minimum down payment on a dynasty. The burden has magnificently, terrifyingly, shifted: Gill’s cubs must now prove this was genesis, not mirage.

The Pitch and the Pendulum

Yet context hangs heavy over Headingley’s sun-baked strip. This was no green-tinged Leeds gremlin; it was a docile highway under cloudless skies. England’s attack, stripped of Anderson (rested), Broad (retired), Wood, and Archer (injured), resembled a shadow squad – skipper Stokes toiled heroically but exhaustedly, flanked by rookies Carse (nervous) and Tongue (wayward). As analyst Sidharth Monga noted, it was “elite batters feasting on an attack begging to be devoured.”

The True Test Begins Now:
The pitch’s character remains unproven until Jasprit Bumrah, India’s pace emperor, unleashes his thunder. Can this attack – fierce but unseasoned in English trench warfare – exploit even this benign canvas? Victory isn’t woven from 359/3; it’s forged by taking 20 wickets, twice. When Stokes, Root, and Brook march out, Bumrah’s roar must shake Leeds. Will the surface crack under his fury, revealing hidden demons? Or will it remain a batting Arcadia, rendering India’s Day One dominance a beautiful, futile pyre? The answer will define this series – and perhaps, an era.

Gambhir’s Gambit and the Ghosts of Giants

Lurking behind Gill’s on-field aura is Gautam Gambhir, India’s combative new tactician. His fingerprints are on Gill’s pre-series vow: to build “a team for 10-15 years,” even playing “four tailenders” to hunt 20 wickets. This merciless ethos mirrors Gambhir’s own granite resolve. But his strategy faces immediate trial: Bumrah’s workload is a time bomb (he may miss Tests); the spin cupboard beyond Jadeja looks bare. Can Gambhir’s blueprints outmaneuver Stokes’ ‘Bazball’ blitzkrieg?

The shadows loom long. Kohli was India’s last conqueror here (2007). Tendulkar’s audacious 3-1 series prediction now electrifies rather than amuses. Pant’s swashbuckling 65* – capped by a last-over six – radiates the new fearlessness. But legacy demands more than flashes. Lord’s seam, Old Trafford bounce, Archer’s impending return – these are the gauntlets awaiting. Can Jaiswal’s voracious hunger sustain a five-Test war? Will the untested middle order crumble or crystallize under fire?

THE VERDICT:
June 20, 2025, was more than cricket; it was coronation theatre. Gill, Jaiswal, and Pant didn’t just fill voids – they declared a future. Yet dynasties aren’t declared at dawn on docile decks against ghost attacks. The true measure of this “new era” begins when England’s batters counterpunch, when clouds gather over Lord’s, when Bumrah’s magic must conjure wickets from dust. Gill’s India has announced itself. Now, it must prove itself – not for a day, but for a decade. The ghosts of Kohli, Dravid, and Tendulkar watch, sceptical and hopeful. History’s pen hovers.

Apple Games is a new all-in-one destination for games and playing with friends on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

At Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple unveiled Apple Games, an all-new destination designed to help players jump back into the games they love, find their next favorite, and have more fun with friends, turning even single-player games into shared experiences. The Games app makes it easier than ever for players to enjoy all their games in one convenient place and see what’s happening across their games, including major events and updates, so they never miss a moment.

Here’s what developers are saying:

“As my friends have grown up and moved away, I miss hearing about what they’re playing on their phones, and the Games app is a great way I can get a window back into their gaming worlds. The app also helps us seamlessly integrate and extend all of the social community features we’ve built into Puzzmo directly into the center of our player’s existing daily play routine.” — Zach Gage, indie developer and cofounder of Puzzmo

“The introduction of challenges and a new social layer marks a major leap forward for both developers and players. While creators stay focused on gameplay, these features bring people together in just a few taps, effortlessly deepening player engagement — especially important for games like Thronefall.” — Glib Platonov, cofounder of Doghowl Games

“The Games app is going to be a game changer for playing on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The app makes it easy for us to create moments just for groups of friends. The new challenges feature works great and feels natural for our games on Apple Arcade, including our latest release, WHAT THE CLASH?, and we’ve been having a lot of fun with it!” — Tim Garbos, creative director and cofounder of Triband.

The Games app is also the best way to experience Apple Arcade, Apple’s subscription service with more than 200 award-winning and highly rated games for the whole family, including Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Sneaky Sasquatch, and Mini Motorways.

Launch Favorite Games, Discover New Ones

The Games app allows players to see all the games they have ever downloaded from the App Store for their iPhone and iPad, and brings together all the games they have on Mac.

They can connect any compatible game controller for easy navigation around the app and to launch right into their games. Players can explore personalized recommendations based on games they’ve played, games their friends are playing, and games supporting Game Center features, that can be played together.

Editorial collections also appear in the app to help players find new games, including some of the most exciting games on the App Store, such as Balatro, Crashlands 2, and DREDGE. If they are an Apple Arcade subscriber, players will see curated collections of the best games included in the catalog that help them get the most out of their subscription.

Play Together 

Players now have all their Game Center friends and groups they’ve played with in one place, so they can easily enjoy their games together. They can see their shared gaming history, compare achievements, and send friends invite links and party codes using any messaging app, bringing them right into a competition or multiplayer match.

The Games app introduces challenges, a new way to compete with friends in score-based showdowns. Developers that have Game Center leaderboards for their games can add these unique challenges that are catered to a smaller group of friends. Challenges can turn single-player games into shared experiences with friends, giving them even more ways to rally a group, crown a winner, and have a rematch.

• A Play Together challenge displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.
• The leaderboard after a challenge between friends in the Apple Games app displayed on iPhone 16 Pro.

• previous
• next

Players can invite friends to challenges by selecting their friends or contacts. Whether competing to see who can survive the most waves of enemies in Thronefall, or who can rack up the highest score in each week’s featured course in Skate City: New York, challenges unlock a whole new level of friendly competition.

Stay Up to Date with In-Game Events

The Games app introduces new features to help developers keep their players in the know about the latest game updates and can’t-miss events. Game pages in the app come to life, highlighting the latest activity for that specific game. Players can see what’s most relevant to them and the games they’re actively playing, front and center, like updates, live events, and timely activity from their friends.

Availability

The Games app is available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com. The Games app will be released with the launch of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26 this fall as a free software update. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all languages or regions, and availability may vary due to local laws and regulations. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.