Hindsight is wonderful, more so in the world of sports, where a bad phase of play sees a swarm of critics attack a side for the decisions that should not have been taken. Virat Kohli is at the receiving end of those critics for opting to bat first at Leeds, which has traditionally been a bowler-friendly venue, but Sarah Waris reckons the decision was the correct one.

Day one at Leeds had a rather unexpected beginning for Indian fans. Accustomed to the words, “Kohli you have lost the toss again,” a rather unfamiliar, and you might say welcome, sight awaited India as their skipper saw the flip of the coin go in his favour for the first time in England. Amused at the incident himself, Kohli allowed himself a victorious smile before uttering, “We’re batting first.”

“The wicket looks firm and without grass, and runs on the board will set this up. We’re going in with the same XI. We thought of getting R Ashwin in, but the pressure of the extra seamer in these conditions is crucial. Ravindra Jadeja will bowl a lot more overs because the conditions are suited to him,” said Kohli at the toss.

Kohli’s pitch assessment, thus, defied what a number of experts had to say on the decision, including Stuart Broad, who felt that it was a “brave call from India to bat first.”

Huge hour for England! 3 big wickets. Brave call from India to bat first, it’s the best Day 1 ground to bowl at in the country IMO. Pitch will get better & better. Won’t be much in it for the seamers from Day 3 onwards- enough in it now!

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) August 25, 2021

However, the Indian, who was surprised at how “brown” the pitch looked at the toss, admitted that Jadeja would come in a lot more in the game, and potentially have a big say in the proceedings in the fourth innings. Backing his seamers to do the job on day five, just like they had at Lord’s, Kohli’s decision was based on what he saw as against what history had him believe, which, in all honesty, cannot be held against him.

However, what can be seen are the poor shots from not only Kohli but the entire batting line-up that saw them being bundled out for just 78 in less than 41 overs. Though England did manage 2.2 degrees of swing and 1.2 degrees of seam in the morning, the most that they have thus far in the first five overs in the series, some brain fade moments off ‘nothing balls’ were what led to the abject surrender.

KL Rahul, who had a dream start to the series, with scores of 84, 26, 129, and 5 threw it away as he chased a wide delivery that seamed up off the pitch only to find his edge. Cheteshwar Pujara, who had blunted out the bowling attack at Lord’s, was unable to keep away from an outswinger after facing a barrage of inswingers from Anderson

The worst, though, was yet to come as Kohli became Anderson’s third victim. The half-volley bowled at 138kmph saw Kohli unleash a cover drive only to see it take a thick outside edge through to Jos Buttler. The ball to dismiss Ajinky Rahane could have been left alone too, as the batter needlessly poked at a good length delivery that straightened around the fifth stump. Without any feet movement, Rahane ended up getting an outside edge to the keeper again, and as Rishabh Pant walked off after chasing a ball with an angled bat, all smiles that Kohli had earlier sported after winning the toss were all but gone.

Rohit Sharma, who dug hard for his 19 off 105, fell to the pull shot yet again as he tried to fetch a ball with extra bounce from shoulder height, as India slipped to 67-6. Expecting an encore of Lord’s from the Indian tail after the capitulation of the top-order was mere madness, and the side will have to analyse their mode of dismissals that have potentially erased the series lead on a track without many demons on offer. With the pitch flattening out as the day progressed it just needed application from the visiting batters similar to the one they had shown at Lord’s on day one in tougher conditions to see them through the early spell.

It is not to say that the Indian quicks would not have enjoyed bowling on a pitch that has traditionally favoured the fast bowlers. India could well have been in the position England are in currently if they had sent the hosts in first, but the game of cricket does not exist in hindsight. It has always been about making the best of the situation that is thrown at them, and unfortunately, India failed to make the most of their decision at Leeds.