England's decision to bowl first after winning the toss at Headingley in the first Test against India appears to have backfired spectacularly, as an inexperienced Indian batting lineup dominated the opening day, finishing at a commanding 359/3. This marks India's highest-ever Day 1 total in a Test match played in England, surpassing their previous best of 338 at Edgbaston in 2022. The day belonged to India's young batting stars, with both captain Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal notching up centuries.

Shubman Gill, in his debut Test as captain, led from the front with a masterful unbeaten 127. Gill became the fifth Indian to score a century in his first Test as captain, emulating the likes of Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, and Virat Kohli. His innings was a blend of elegant strokeplay and calm leadership, providing stability to the Indian innings after a brief wobble.

Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his dream run in Test cricket, scoring a magnificent 101. Jaiswal has thus marked his first ever Test innings in England with a century. His innings was characterized by a mix of aggression and composure, as he took the attack to the English bowlers while also displaying solid defensive technique. Jaiswal's century also made him the seventh Indian opener to score a century in both England and Australia.

The day wasn't without its challenges for India. Debutant Sai Sudharsan fell for a duck, becoming the first Indian debutant since 2011 to suffer such a fate. KL Rahul, after a steady start, was dismissed for 42. However, the partnerships between Jaiswal and Gill, and later between Gill and Rishabh Pant, ensured that India remained in control.

Rishabh Pant, returning as vice-captain, played an aggressive innings, smashing a quickfire 65*. Pant's aggressive approach put the English bowlers under further pressure and ensured that India maintained a healthy scoring rate throughout the day.

England's bowling attack struggled to make inroads into the Indian batting lineup. Ben Stokes was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2 wickets for 43 runs. However, the other bowlers, including Chris Woakes, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir, remained wicketless despite bowling long spells.

Several factors contributed to England's struggles. The Headingley pitch offered little assistance to the bowlers, and the Indian batsmen were able to exploit the conditions to their advantage. England's decision to field an inexperienced bowling attack also backfired, as the Indian batsmen were able to capitalize on their lack of Test experience.

Looking ahead, India will aim to build on their strong start and post a formidable first-innings total. England, on the other hand, will need to regroup and come up with a plan to restrict India's scoring and get themselves back into the match. The weather forecast for Day 2 predicts heavy rain, which could play a significant role in the outcome of the match.