Twitter Reactions: Ravichandran Ashwin's record spell helps India crush West Indies by innings in 1st Test

Indian batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli picked up from where they had left off on Day 2 of the first Test against West Indies, as India continued on 312/2. India’s dominance continued even on Day 3 as after declaring the innings with a 271-run lead, Ravichandran Ashwin’s heroics handed the Rohit Sharma-led side a victory as India defeated West Indies by an innings and 141 runs.

India dominated the first session, as Jaiswal, who started at 143*, crossed the 150-run mark and went on to score the third-highest Test score by an Indian on debut. Soon, Virat Kohli got to his half-century as he shared a 110-run stand for the third wicket before the young debutant was dismissed. Pacer Alzarri Joseph managed to get his side the first breakthrough in the day, as he dismissed Jaiswal for 171(387).

Soon then, Kemar Roach added a dent to India's batting unit by dismissing vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane for a poor 3(11). As a result, India finished the first session at 400/4, scoring 88 runs and losing two wickets in 29 overs. Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja then took the game forward and looked to build the innings even better in the second session.

Kohli looked solid with the bat, but his innings came to an end soon after Lunch when Rahkeem Cornwall sent him packing for 76(182). India's second debutant, Ishan Kishan, then joined Jadeja on the crease. Soon, the Indian skipper indicated the batters to get off the field and declare the innings, and they did so as soon as Ishan got off the mark and scored his first Test run on the 20th ball that he faced. Eventually, India declared at 421/5 with a 271-run lead.

West Indies started the second innings shortly as Kraigg Braithwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul walked into the field. After a poor outing in the first innings, they had a big task of putting up a worthy partnership but all their plans went in vain when Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Chanderpaul in the 10th over to get an early breakthrough. Braithwaite then fell prey to Ravichandran Ashwin's spin as India managed to pick two wickets in the second session while West Indies struggled at 27/2.

In the very first over post Tea, Ashwin scalped his second wicket in the form of Jermaine Blackwood, trapping him in front of the stumps. Jadeja joined the party in the very next over by packing Raymon Reifer's innings, as West Indies dropped down to 34/4 in 22 overs. After Mohammed Siraj dismissed Joshua Da Silva, it was all Ashwin’s show. 

Alick Athanaze tried his best to add runs to the scoreboard but failed to get assistance from other batters before Ashwin dismissed him. Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder hit some runs but fell prey to Ashwin's spin. The spin-bowling allrounder went on to register the best-ever bowling figures by an Indian player on the Caribbean shores (46-13-131-12) and picked up a seven-wicket haul as India clinched the game by an innings and 141 runs.

Here's how Twitter reacted:

How good were these two in Dominica! 👏 👏#TeamIndia | #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/4D5LYcCmxB

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 15, 2023

- Five wicket haul in the first innings.
- Five wicket haul in the second innings.

The GOAT is back, dropped from the WTC final and he has returned like a boss, Take a bow, Ashwin. pic.twitter.com/BSvg5dnKhQ

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 14, 2023

1⃣st Test: India defeat West Indies by innings, 141 runs in Dominica.

Second and final Test will start from July 20 at Port of Spain in Trinidad.#WIvIND #Cricket🏏 pic.twitter.com/AL6ORZZCvT

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 15, 2023

Yaar ye kya baat hui? 😅😅

Raat ko soya toh WI - 7/0
Subah utha WI - 130/10 😅

Kam se Kam kuch toh khelte #WIvIND #WIvsIND #INDvsWI #YashasviJaiswal #RohitSharma

— TUSHAR (@CricTusharv) July 15, 2023

WHAT. A. WIN! 🙌 🙌 1-0 🇮🇳👏

A cracking performance from #TeamIndia to win the first #WIvIND Test in Dominica 👏 👏#INDvsWI #TeamIndia #ViratKohli #RohitSharma #YashasviJaiswal #RavichandraAshwin #RavindraJadeja pic.twitter.com/bDt7UC2Ioi

— Kishore (@imkishoreNc) July 15, 2023

A superb 171 by @ybj_19 on debut and a 12 wicket haul by @ashwinravi99 gives India an innings and 141 run win over WI in the 1st Test

HUM JEET GAAAAAAYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, HUM JEET GAYE!!!!!!!!!!!! #WIvIND #Lagaan

— North Stand Gang - Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) July 15, 2023

India wraps up the 1st Test inside 3 days.

Ravi Ashwin the hero with 5/60 and 7/71. Jaiswal won POTM award for his incredible 171 on debut! pic.twitter.com/a2oeFh0Ymc

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 14, 2023

I thought @ashwinravi99 might retire soon. But looks like he will captain india for a couple of seasons and then only hang up his boots #WIvsIND #BCCI

— Balaji (@balatweets) July 15, 2023

#Ashwin say Ashwin, the wkts fall automatically? Ashwin the cricket magician?! #INDvsWI #WIvsIND @BCCI @ashwinravi99

— Soma (@Visalmama) July 15, 2023

And there's that moment of history by #RavichandranAshwin. As he equals to The Great Anil Kumble in the number of 10 wkt Hauls in a test match. Congratulations #Ashwin Anna. The name itself has a "win" then there is no stopping him from delivering "Wins" to #TeamIndia . #WIvsIND pic.twitter.com/pc2oaYmNZw

— CHINTHAPANTI GOWTHAM REDDY (@GowthamreddyC) July 14, 2023