Ben Stokes' decision to ask India to bat first at Headingley in the first of the five-match Test series turned out to be a costly one, with the Indian side, high on youth, claiming decisive domination on day one to finish at 359 for 3 at stumps.

Shubman Gill, the 25-year-old who made his captaincy debut in red-ball cricket at Leeds, will resume day two at 127 not out alongside his deputy Rishabh Pant, who is unbeaten on 65 off 102 balls.

At a time when all eyes were on the Indian batting department and how Indian batters would adapt to challenging English conditions after the retirement of two icons of the game, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India’s young batters stepped up and made big statements, with opener Jaiswal scoring 101 after mostly batting through cramps in both hands, and Gill, batting at a strike rate of 72.57, looking ready to fill the void.

Stokes’ decision to bowl first turned out to be a mistake as England were missing several frontline bowlers due to injuries, and India showed great intent to take advantage of a rather blunt bowling attack.

With Jaiswal, Gill, and Pant — who smashed Stokes for a six off his second ball of the innings — proving there is still plenty of depth left in the Indian batting line-up, former England captain Michael Vaughan said he was “staggered” by the decision to send India in on a dry pitch in sunny conditions, despite England’s penchant for audacious run chases under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

“Just because you’ve won a year ago, two years ago, or three years ago, it can’t really affect what the decision is today. And they’ve allowed India, with a youngish batting line-up and a new captain, to just go and play,” Vaughan said in commentary for the BBC.

Opener Jaiswal braved cramps in both hands and became the first Indian batter to score centuries in his first match in both Australia and England with a flawless display of off-side batting. Three of the 23-year-old’s five centuries have come against England, having amassed a colossal 813 runs in 10 Tests when facing McCullum’s side.

While Jaiswal and his opening partner KL Rahul gave India a solid start, scoring 91 before the latter was dismissed by Brydon Carse, Gill, who stepped into Headingley to bat at No. 4 - a sacred spot previously helmed by Virat Kohli — could not have been under more scrutiny.

The India captain hit back-to-back boundaries in the 32nd over to settle his early nerves. Gill then smacked England bowlers all around the park, bringing up his hundred with a glorious drive through the covers.

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