The debut Test match between India and West Indies witnessed unforgettable moments as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, and Alick Athanaze showcased their talents on the grand stage of cricket. However, it was India who emerged as the dominant force, securing victory at Windsor Park in Dominica.
Kishan’s entry into red-ball cricket received some scrutiny as he took his time to score his first run, drawing animated hand gestures from captain Rohit Sharma in the dressing room. In contrast, Jaiswal exhibited patient batting, earning praise for his resilience.
The pitch’s sluggish nature and slow outfield posed challenges for all Indian batsmen. Even centurions Jaiswal and Rohit had modest strike rates of 44.18 and 46.60, respectively. Virat Kohli, too, struggled to find boundaries, taking 81 balls to score his first one, highlighting the difficulties faced by the Indian team.
Rohit’s reaction hinted at a potential declaration following Kohli’s dismissal at 76 runs. Kishan was perhaps assigned the task of scoring quick runs, but he took 20 balls to get off the mark. Dissatisfied with the slow progress, Rohit swiftly summoned Kishan and Ravindra Jadeja (37*) back to the pavilion. India declared their innings at 421/5, establishing a substantial lead of 271 runs.
The decision to declare early can be attributed to the nature of the pitch. Although it offered turn, its slow nature allowed batsmen to adjust if they displayed patience. Recognizing that spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja might need more time to dismiss West Indies in the second innings, Rohit timed the declaration just before Tea.
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Ashwin’s exceptional performance on the turning pitch stood out in India’s bowling attack. He claimed 7-71 in the second innings, finishing the match with impressive figures of 12-131. West Indies struggled to counter India’s spinners and were eventually dismissed for 130 runs in under 51 overs, following their first innings total of 150.