India vs Windies: 1st Test, Day 2, Review- Kohli, Jadeja and bowlers carve a miserable day for visitors

India ended the first day of the opening Test at SCA Stadium in Rajkot against the Windies on a resounding note, racking up 364 and they carried over their impressive form in the second day as well. Kraigg Brathwaite’s men couldn’t arrest their slump and now find themselves in a rabbit hole courtesy of a trail of 555 in front of them with four wickets remaining in their first innings.

Kohli scores his 24th Test century

Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant were the overnight batsmen and both looked at ease from the word go. Pant took the attack to the opposition bowlers and pushed their rivals on the backfoot. He also didn’t mind using his feet on a consistent basis to disallow the pacers and spinners from settling down. In the meantime, the Indian captain notched his 24th Test century.

The Kohli-Pant stand fetched 133 runs from 148 deliveries. Pant was looking good to rack up his second Test ton, but his knock was cut short by Devendra Bishoo, who foxed the wicketkeeper-batsman with a wrong’un. The batsman went for a cross-batted heave only to hole out to Keemo Paul. However, the pre-lunch session went to India having scored 106 runs.

Jadeja shepherds India

Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja resumed, but to the home team’s dismay, five overs into the session, debutant Sherman Lewis nipped out Kohli. Jadeja took the onus upon himself to guide his team to a position of command. The 29-year-old went on to score his maiden Test ton off merely 132 balls with the help of five boundaries and as many hits into the stands.

He stitched together a partnership of 55 runs with Umesh Yadav for the ninth wicket. To add insult to Windies’ injuries, Umesh carted a couple of sixes to lent the appropriate support to Jadeja. Immediately after Jadeja racked up his ton, India declared with 649 runs on the board at the stroke of Tea. Bishoo was the visiting team’s standout bowler with four wickets.

Indian bowlers dictate terms

Mohammad Shami cleaned up Kraigg Brathwaite to draw first blood. The Bengal fast-bowler picked up his second wicket in the form of Kieran Powell to leave the visitors in utter shambles. Shai Hope became Ravichandran Ashwin’s first victim and a couple of overs later, Shimron Hetmyer succumbed to a shambolic run-out. Sunil Ambris promised with a couple of boundaries.

Unfortunately, Jadeja got rid of him when the batsmen tried to attempt an extravagant stroke. Ajinkya Rahane didn’t make any mistake in grasping the leather in the slip cordon. Shane Dowrich tried to put his head down and eventually was outsmarted by Kuldeep, who ran through the batter’s defence. Roston Chase scored 27 runs and didn’t look in much of trouble.

Brief Scores

India: 649/9 dec in 149.5 overs; (Virat Kohli 139, Prithvi Shaw 134; Devendra Bishoo 4/217, Sherman Lewis 2/93)

Windies: 94/6 in 29 overs; (Roston Chase 27*, Keemo Paul 13*; Mohammed Shami 2/11, Ravindra Jadeja 1/9)

Windies trail by 555 runs

Close of Play: Day 2

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