On the strength of Ravichandran Ashwin’s 12-wicket haul and rising sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 171 runs, India defeated West Indies by an innings and 141 runs on Saturday, kicking off the new WTC cycle in style.
India has gained significant points in the current World Test Championship cycle thanks to an exceptional overall performance in the first Test.
Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were given the responsibility of leading the Indian bowling attack by captain Rohit Sharma, who had faith in their ability to spin bowl on a surface that offered enough of help to spinners. In the encounter, the two off-spinners took 17 of the 20 West Indies wickets, living up to their reputations.
The skipper Sharma and the 21-year-old Jaiswal put up a strong 229-run partnership in the first innings, scoring century for both players. Jaiswal eventually made a staggering 171 runs, while veteran Virat Kohli joined him with a superb 76-run innings.
Ashwin further cemented his reputation by winning his 34th five-wicket haul, which is tied for the fifth-most by any bowler in Test history, and proving to the world why he is the No. 1 rated Test bowler.
India will be keen to keep up their momentum as the second Test in Port of Spain draws near, while the hosts will be striving for a better performance in order to tie the series.
Prior to tea, Jadeja and Ashwin worked together to dismiss the West Indies’ first two batters, dropping the visitors to 27/2 and leaving India leading by 244 runs.
Only 48 runs were scored during the session, and three wickets were taken, leaving India in a strong position to win the game after declaring on 421/5 and taking a 271-run advantage.
India started its innings after the declaration with four overs of speed before resorting to Ashwin and Jadeja. As predicted, the seasoned spinners held skipper Kraigg Brathwaite and opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul on a tight leash despite the pitch’s many spin and bounce-related trickery.
Jadeja, who was approaching from over the wicket, gave India the breakthrough when he beat Chanderpaul on the inside edge and trapped him lbw.
The West Indies captain battled to escape throughout his torturous 47-ball stay at the crease, even after Ishan Kishan missed a chance of Brathwaite. He even got off the mark on the 30th delivery before edging Ashwin to first slip.
Virat Kohli attempted to flick over leg-side earlier in the second session but was dismissed for 76 by Rahkeem Cornwall when the additional bounce sent a thick inside edge to leg slip. In his first several Test matches, Kishan alternated between defending, quitting, and being defeated twice.
Through a cut and creamy cover drive for boundaries, Ravindra Jadeja raked in several boundaries. Kishan finally got off the mark in Test cricket after 19 balls with a flick off the hip for a single. As soon as he reached his first run, India announced a 271-run advantage on a pitch that was rapidly degrading.
Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal impressively reached the 150-mark early in the first session. However, the rookie was dismissed for a whopping 171, and Kohli scored his 29th Test fifty as India continued to put the West Indies under pressure. In the first session, India added 88 runs in 29 overs despite losing Jaiswal and Ajinkya Rahane.
