Ashwin lived as much as his standing because the top-ranked Take a look at bowler within the ICC rankings, decimating the West Indies batting lineup with figures of 5 for 60 in 24.three overs. His spell was complemented superbly by the ever-reliable Ravindra Jadeja, who claimed three for 26 in 14 overs, making life depressing for the house group’s batters.
Because it occurred: India vs West Indies, 1st Take a look at Day 1
With ample time for batting remaining within the day, captain Rohit Sharma (30 not out, 65 balls) and debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal (40 not out, 73 balls) fashioned a strong opening partnership, including 80 to cut back the primary innings deficit to a mere 70 runs heading into the second day.
The brand new opening pair appeared snug on the crease, with the pitch providing little help to the bowlers. Sharma displayed his trademark “Nataraja” pull-shot and unleashed elegant straight drives, whereas Jaiswal confirmed composure past his years, taking part in near his physique for almost all of the night.
Nonetheless, the standout performer of the day was undeniably Ashwin, whose distinctive artistry proved an excessive amount of for an undercooked West Indies batting lineup. The gradual and two-paced monitor offered ample flip and bounce, which Ashwin expertly exploited. His efficiency additionally marked a big milestone, as he turned the third Indian bowler, after Anil Kumble (956 wickets) and Harbhajan Singh (711), to succeed in 700 scalps throughout all codecs in worldwide cricket.
Moreover, Ashwin achieved a novel distinction by dismissing each father and son. Having dismissed Shivnarine Chanderpaul on his Take a look at debut in 2011, he now despatched his son, Tagenarine, again to the pavilion.
Aside from debutant left-hander Alick Athanaze’s accountable knock of 47 off 99 deliveries, not one of the Caribbean batters displayed the mandatory method to outlive on the slow-turning pitch. Ashwin expertly assorted his tempo, mixing in sliders and deliveries angling throughout right-handers whereas utilising drift to perfection towards the left-handers.
Supporting Ashwin’s brilliance, Mohammed Siraj (1 for 25 in 12 overs) performed a tireless position, constantly hitting an attractive fuller size in the course of the first session. Submit-lunch, he switched gears and peppered the batsmen with well-executed bouncers to maintain the strain on. His spectacular diving catch at mid-off to dismiss Jermaine Blackwood off Jadeja’s bowling additional highlighted his contributions.
The choice to bat first on a monitor that provided flip and bounce proper from the beginning backfired for the West Indies batsmen, most of whom lacked the required persistence and flexibility. Shardul Thakur (1 for 15 in 7 overs), working because the third seamer in abroad situations for the primary time, continued his knack for selecting up wickets, whereas Jaydev Unadkat (zero for 17 in 7 overs) supported the bowling assault commendably.
West Indies openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul (12 off 44 balls) and captain Kraigg Brathwaite (20 off 46 balls) discovered themselves beneath immense strain within the face of relentless tempo from Siraj and Unadkat. Ashwin capitalised on the state of affairs, intelligently slowing down his deliveries and making efficient use of drift to hassle the opening pair.
In the end, Ashwin’s mastery was on full show all through the day, leaving the West Indies batsmen floundering. The gradual turner proved to be their undoing, with solely Athanaze exhibiting resilience amidst the turmoil.
The second day of the Take a look at guarantees to be equally fascinating as India appears to increase their benefit and tighten their grip on the match.
(With inputs from PTI)
