Yashasvi Jaiswal’s unbeaten 173 underlined his growing stature in international cricket as India ended day one of the second Test against the West Indies in complete control at 318 for two at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday.
B Sai Sudharsan played the perfect supporting role with a composed 87 in a 193-run stand that blunted the visitors’ attack. After captain Shubman Gill won his first toss as India’s Test skipper and chose to bat on a slow surface, the home side dominated from the outset. Jaiswal began patiently, soaking up the early pressure alongside KL Rahul in a 58-run opening stand before unfurling an array of shots that thrilled the 11,000-strong Delhi crowd.
Jaiswal Shifts Gears After Steady Start
The tone of the day was set once Rahul departed for 38, stumped off Jomel Warrican. Jaiswal shifted gears, raising his fifty off 82 balls and reaching his century with a flick off his pads. His celebrations — helmet off, bat aloft and a few flying kisses — captured the confidence of a batter in sublime form.
By stumps, he had crossed 150 for the fifth time in his young Test career, showing complete command of tempo and intent. His knock was a masterclass in building an innings — cautious at the start, fluent in the middle and composed as the day wore on.
Sudharsan Proves His Worth With Composed 87
Sudharsan, who had walked in at No. 3 under scrutiny, impressed with his poise and shot selection. His knock of 87 was a blend of patience and precision, highlighted by crisp drives and neat flicks.
I was not thinking about pressure or the magnitude of the game. I just wanted to stay calm and let things happen naturally. Batting with Jaiswal was fantastic — the way he creates boundaries even off good deliveries is so fascinating to watch.
The partnership was eventually broken when Sudharsan was trapped lbw by Warrican, missing out narrowly on a maiden Test century. Reflecting on his innings, he added, “Ideally, we would like to bat just once; we want to bat as long as possible and get the best total we can. The goal is to make the West Indies bat twice.”
West Indies Struggle Despite Discipline
For West Indies, the day was about discipline but limited rewards. Warrican’s twin strikes were the only bright spots as the bowlers maintained an excellent over rate and conceded no extras. Assistant coach Floyd Reifer admitted it had been a tough outing.
Indeed, a difficult day at the office. Jaiswal batted really well. To be unbeaten at the end of the day shows his class and temperament. We need to come back stronger with the new ball tomorrow.
Reifer also praised young seamer Jayden Seales for learning quickly in Indian conditions. “This is Jayden’s first Test tour of India. He’s understanding how to bowl on flatter wickets — it’s all about consistency,” he said.
India Eye Big Total On Day 2
As the shadows lengthened, Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 173 with Gill on 20 not out, having played a few crisp slog sweeps late in the day. The duo will resume on Saturday aiming to bat West Indies out of the contest and build an unassailable lead.
Brief Scores: India 318/2 in 90 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 173*, B Sai Sudharsan 87; Jomel Warrican 2-60) vs West Indies.
