India kicked off their two-match Test series against West Indies with a bang. The opening day of the Dominica Test witnessed an explosive start as India dominated the proceedings, courtesy of an outstanding performance by Ravichandran Ashwin. Following their defeat in the World Test Championship final, the Indian team demonstrated their unbeatable spirit, consistently keeping the hosts on the backfoot throughout the day.
After being asked to bowl first, the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja wreaked havoc on the Caribbean pitch. Initially, the West Indian openers, Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, put up a decent fight. However, with Chanderpaul’s dismissal, the momentum swiftly shifted in favor of India.
Ravichandran Ashwin posed as a formidable puzzle for the West Indian batsmen, leading the bowling attack with exceptional skill. His exceptional performance led to an impressive achievement of capturing five wickets, conceding a mere 60 runs. Jadeja also played a crucial role by contributing three wickets, intensifying the pressure on the home team.
As a result, the West Indies succumbed to the immense pressure, collapsing for a paltry total of 150 runs. This early dismissal presented a golden opportunity for the Indian batsmen to seize control of the match, and they certainly lived up to expectations.
Ravi Ashwin's five wicket haul yesterday.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 13, 2023
One of the greatest ever of Test cricket! pic.twitter.com/l7YYHjfhwC
India’s opening duo, Rohit Sharma and debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal, approached the challenge of facing the Caribbean bowlers with calmness and resolve. Undeterred by the task at hand, they steadily constructed a firm platform for India. By the close of play, the pair had guided India to a promising score of 80/0, establishing a sturdy foundation for the upcoming days of the Test match.
