Incisive spells from Mohammed Siraj (4-40) and Jasprit Bumrah (3-42), followed by KL Rahul’s calm unbeaten half-century, helped India seize early control of the first Test against West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
On a pitch with a tinge of green, India bowled out the visitors for 162 in 44.1 overs before reaching 121/2 at stumps in reply, just 41 runs adrift with eight wickets in hand.
Siraj’s Fire, Bumrah’s Precision
Siraj set the tone immediately, swinging the ball to dismiss Tagenarine Chanderpaul for a duck in the first over. Brandon King soon followed, bowled shouldering arms to a delivery that jagged back into middle stump. By reducing West Indies to 42/4, Siraj and Bumrah had ripped out the top order before lunch.
I was very excited to bowl on this green-top wicket, something we don’t get very often in India. I had to work hard for those wickets, nothing came easy. It was all about sticking to plans and keeping the stumps in play.
Bumrah, who dismissed John Campbell early, came back in the final session to finish off the tail with two searing yorkers that flattened Justin Greaves and Johann Layne.
Kuldeep Yadav, making his return to red-ball cricket after more than a year, produced arguably the ball of the day — drifting and turning sharply to breach Shai Hope’s defence for 26 just before lunch. West Indies, who briefly resisted through Hope and Roston Chase’s 48-run stand, collapsed thereafter. Greaves top-scored with 32, but no batter showed lasting application.
Rahul Anchors India’s Reply
India’s reply began steadily. Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 50 for the opening stand, with Jaiswal looking fluent until he edged Jayden Seales for 36 trying to cut a ball too close to his body.
B Sai Sudharsan, on his first home Test appearance, struggled for fluency and fell lbw to Roston Chase for 7, leaving India at 72/2.
Rahul, though, stood firm. Mixing patience with occasional elegance, he compiled a composed 53 not out from 114 balls, including six boundaries, his late cuts and drives standing out. Despite briefly needing physio attention for a hamstring niggle, he carried on unflustered. Partnering with Shubman Gill (18*), Rahul ensured India ended the day with momentum firmly on their side.
Outlook for Day 2
With Rahul set and Gill looking solid, India will aim to press home the advantage on a surface that is easing out for batting. A substantial first-innings lead now looks within reach, one that could define the shape of the match and the start of India’s home season.
Brief Scores: West Indies 162 all out in 44.1 overs (Justin Greaves 32, Shai Hope 26; Mohammed Siraj 4-40, Jasprit Bumrah 3-42, Kuldeep Yadav 2-41) India 121/2 in 38 overs (K.L. Rahul 53*, Shubman Gill 18*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 36; Roston Chase 1-16, Jayden Seales 1-21) India trail by 41 runs with eight wickets in hand.
