The first Test between England and India at Headingley in Leeds has seen a dramatic shift in momentum, with England fighting back after India's initial dominance. After two days of play, the match hangs in the balance, showcasing the resilience of the English side.

India had a strong start, reaching 359/3 at stumps on Day 1. Centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and captain Shubman Gill (127) put India in a commanding position. Rishabh Pant also contributed with an aggressive 65, leaving England searching for answers. The IndianExpress reported that Gill was playing his first match as captain.

Day 2 saw India initially aiming for a massive total, but they suffered a collapse after Gill's dismissal for 147, losing seven wickets for just 41 runs, eventually being all out for 471. Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue took four wickets each, helping England claw their way back into the game.

England's response was led by Ollie Pope, who scored an unbeaten century to revive the hosts. According to Mint, Pope's innings was not without its challenges. He survived a testing spell from Jasprit Bumrah, narrowly avoided an lbw decision, and was dropped once. Despite the difficulties, he displayed resilience and determination to reach his ninth Test hundred, his second against India.

At the end of Day 2, England were 209/3, trailing India by 262 runs. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking all three English wickets to fall, including Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Joe Root. However, Bumrah also had a slice of misfortune, as he overstepped on one occasion after a catch was taken, thus denying him of another wicket.

Ben Stokes' captaincy has been under scrutiny, especially his decision to bowl first after winning the toss. Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the decision, stating that England's strength lies in their batting. Vaughan expressed surprise at Stokes' decision, especially considering the clear skies and good batting conditions on Day 1.

Despite India's strong start with centuries from Jaiswal and Gill, England managed to fight back through Ollie Pope's century and some aggressive bowling from Ben Stokes. The match is now finely poised, with both teams having opportunities to seize control. The remaining days promise to be intriguing, with the potential for more twists and turns as both sides vie for victory in this opening Test.