Ahmedabad– India seized early control of the first Test against the West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday, riding on fiery spells from Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, followed by a composed half-century from K.L. Rahul.
On a lively green pitch, Siraj (4-40) and Bumrah (3-42) combined to skittle the visitors for just 162 in 44.1 overs. Siraj ripped through the top order with movement and bounce, while Bumrah mopped up the tail with trademark yorkers.
India’s reply was anchored by Rahul, who crafted an unbeaten 53 off 114 balls, his 20th Test half-century. Rahul’s patience and precision, highlighted by six stylish boundaries, guided India to 121/2 at stumps — just 41 runs behind with eight wickets still in hand. Shubman Gill (18 not out) provided steady support, ensuring India ended Day One in a position of strength.
Rahul, briefly troubled by a hamstring twinge, soldiered on and reached his fifty with a single, displaying his trademark elegance through late drives and well-timed cuts. His partnership with Jaiswal set a solid tone until the opener fell for 36, edging behind off Jayden Seales. Debutant B. Sai Sudharsan managed only seven before falling lbw to Roston Chase, but India’s advantage remained intact.
Earlier, Siraj dismantled the West Indies top order, reducing them to 42/4. Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s comeback ended with a duck in the first over, while John Campbell perished on review off Bumrah. Brandon King’s brief flurry was cut short when he shouldered arms to a ball that cannoned into middle stump, and Alick Athanaze edged Siraj to slip.
Shai Hope (26) and Roston Chase (21) briefly revived the innings with a 48-run stand before Kuldeep Yadav, returning to Tests after more than a year, bowled Hope with a beauty that dipped and turned to breach his defense. From there, India’s bowlers remained relentless. Siraj dismissed Chase after lunch, Washington Sundar trapped Khary Pierre lbw, and Bumrah finished with two classic inswinging yorkers to clean up the tail. Kuldeep and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel combined to remove Jomel Warrican with sharp glove work to end the innings.
The West Indies batting unit, aside from Justin Greaves’ 32, showed little application against India’s disciplined attack. With Rahul and Gill settled and the pitch easing, India will aim to build a commanding first-innings lead on Friday.
Brief scores:
West Indies 162 all out in 44.1 overs (Justin Greaves 32, Shai Hope 26; Mohammed Siraj 4-40, Jasprit Bumrah 3-42)
India 121/2 in 38 overs (K.L. Rahul 53 not out, Yashasvi Jaiswal 36; Roston Chase 1-16, Jayden Seales 1-21) (Source: IANS)
