After Day 1 of the first Test match between India and West Indies in Ahmedabad, the home team came out on top, finishing the first day with a score of 121 for 2 after restricting the opposition to 162 runs. India is now only 41 runs behind with KL Rahul offering some resistance in the form of a well-earned fifty after a shaky start.
It was an all-round effort from India’s bowlers but in particular Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. Siraj picked up from where he left off in the recently concluded series against England, targeting a fuller length, but letting the ball go without incident to languish the stumps. Siraj finished the day with figures of 4-40 and broke down the West Indies line-up due to his accuracy and energy. Even with one lbw decision overturned by DRS for his first home five-wicket haul, it was too late as Siraj’s discipline and effort had already thrown the West Indies side off-balance. Bumrah was equally as good as he cleaned up the tail brilliantly with his yorkers, which added to his 50 Test wickets record in India – the quickest to date. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav, who had been waiting an eternity on the sidelines, deceived Shai Hope, with his turn and art. He could have momentarily curtailed a very stubborn stand.
The West Indies never appeared to find their footing after choosing to bat first. Tagenarine Chanderpaul was dismissed for a duck, Brandon King was out leaving his off stump exposed to a straight delivery, and Alick Athanaze, looked promising early on, was lured into a false shot by Siraj. Their captain, Roston Chase, and Shai Hope put up a brief resistance together with a stand of 70 balls before being dismissed by excellent deliveries. Justin Greaves was also beaten by the pace and precision of Bumrah. With virtually no fight left in the batting order, the visitors collapsed for 162 before tea, with no breathing space for their bowlers.
India started confidently in their reply too, but the early dismissal of debutant Sai Sudharsan for 7 continued to highlight the transitional phase Indian cricket is in, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin out of the side, and Rishabh Pant injured. Fortunately, being led out by KL Rahul, their batting improvement turned. KL Rahul’s innings of 53 not out, looked not just an issue of skill but intention to show leadership in this new phase of Indian cricket. He made sure that accompanied by Shubman Gill, they did not present the West Indies with any chance to enter the game.
In the end, the entire balance swung heavily in favour of India. With batting still to come into play, and conditions likely to support their spinners in the last innings, the hosts are now looking forward to a big lead in the first innings. For the West Indies, it will be a huge challenge to overcome. Their players will need to get early wickets on the second morning, or the game could swing away from them quickly and once again, be left with the same old scenario of having to chase the game in Indian conditions.
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