Mohammed Siraj narrowly missed out on claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in a home Test but still delivered a superb performance, finishing with career-best figures of 4 for 40 in India. Carrying forward the momentum from his successful tour of England, his efforts played a key role in dismissing West Indies for just 162 on the opening day of the series in Ahmedabad. Adding to India’s dominance, KL Rahul continued his impressive form with a composed half-century, reducing the deficit to just 41 runs and capping off a commanding start to the season for the hosts.
West Indies bowled out for just 162
West Indies’ struggles at the start of Test innings continued as their openers once again failed to cross the 50-run mark, extending the poor streak to 12 innings. On a green surface still fresh from recent rain and time under the covers, Roston Chase had hoped his batters could survive the opening spells. However, Tagenarine Chanderpaul fell cheaply to Mohammed Siraj, nicking down the leg side to Dhruv Jurel, while Jasprit Bumrah made John Campbell his victim with a swinging and seaming delivery that required a review to confirm. Both openers were back within the first half hour, leaving the visitors reeling.
Alick Athanaze and Brandon King tried to defy the odds but Siraj dismantled them in quick succession, removing the pair within ten deliveries. King was outsmarted as Siraj first bowled a couple of nipbackers before slipping in a straighter ball outside off, which King drove. Expecting another to shape away, he shouldered arms only to see the ball jag back and crash into his stumps. Athanaze too was undone, this time by a change of angle as Siraj bowled from round the wicket and found an edge through to KL Rahul at slip. The early collapse left West Indies banking on their seasoned duo, Chase and Shai Hope, to rebuild the innings.
Hope and Chase did manage to settle things somewhat in the second hour of the morning, frustrating the Indian bowlers with resilient defense. However, their stand was broken by a touch of genius from Kuldeep Yadav, who tossed one up that drifted, turned, and beat Hope’s drive to uproot his stumps. That wicket, just before Lunch, came as a crushing blow to the West Indies who limped into the break with the scoreboard reading 90 for 5.
Any hopes of revival after the interval quickly evaporated. Siraj returned to send Chase packing with a delightful delivery that took the outside edge and ended in Jurel’s gloves. Debutant Khary Pierre offered brief resistance alongside Justin Greaves, but Washington Sundar provided the breakthrough, trapping him lbw. Bumrah then stepped in with lethal yorkers that accounted for two quick wickets, taking West Indies to the brink. The chance for Siraj’s maiden Test five-for loomed, but he was denied, as Kuldeep instead sealed the innings by knocking out Jomel Warrican, leaving the visitors all out for just 162.
KL Rahul And Yashasvi Jaiswal start well for India
India’s reply began carefully with openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal adopting a measured approach, scoring at just two runs an over. A spell of rain interrupted play, but once the players returned, Jaiswal switched gears. He struck seven quick boundaries, lifting the tempo until his aggression led to his downfall, edging Jayden Seales behind after a solid 68-run opening stand.
A mini stutter came when Sai Sudharsan, on only his second Test appearance, missed a skidder from Chase to fall for 7. But Shubman Gill arrived to steady things, ensuring no further setbacks for India. Meanwhile, Rahul, untroubled and composed at the crease, worked his way towards his 19th Test half-century, capping off a commanding opening day for the hosts.
Brief Scores: India 121/2 (KL Rahul 53*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 36; Jayden Seales 1-21) trail West Indies 162 (Justin Greaves 32; Mohammed Siraj 4-40, Jasprit Bumrah 3-42, Kuldeep Yadav 2-25) by 41 runs.