Finance
On the back of Ravichandran Ashwin’s 12-wicket haul and emerging sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 171 runs, India thrashed West Indies by an innings and 141 runs on Saturday, as the Rohit Sharma-led side began the new WTC cycle on the right foot.
India scored significant points in the current World Test Championship cycle thanks to an exceptional overall performance in the first Test.
Captain Rohit Sharma placed his trust in the spin bowling powers of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, entrusting them with leading the Indian bowling attack on a wicket that aided spinners. Both off-spinners delivered, taking 17 of the 20 West Indies wickets in the encounter.
In the first innings, Jaiswal, 21, and captain Sharma combined for a 229-run partnership, with both batters scoring hundreds. Jaiswal went on to smash an astounding 171 runs, while the veteran Virat Kohli added 76 runs to his total.
Ashwin demonstrated why he is the world’s top-ranked Test bowler by taking his 34th five-wicket haul, which is tied for the sixth most by any bowler in Test history.
As the second Test at Port of Spain approaches, India will be looking to retain their momentum, while the hosts will be looking to improve their performance in order to even the series.
Earlier, till tea, Jadeja and Ashwin combined to dismiss West Indies openers, reduced to 27/2 and trail India by 244 runs.
Only 48 runs were scored throughout the session, while three wickets fell, leaving India in pole position to win the match after declaring on 421/5, taking a 271-run advantage.
Following the declaration, India used four overs of pace before going to Ashwin and Jadeja. With the surface playing all kinds of tricks in terms of spin and bounce, the veteran spinners held openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and captain Kraigg Brathwaite on a tight leash.
Coming in from behind the wicket, Jadeja gave India the breakthrough by lbw trapping Chanderpaul after beating him on the inside edge.
Despite Ishan Kishan losing a catch, West Indies skipper Brathwaite struggled to break free in his painful 47-ball stay at the crease, including getting off the mark on his 30th ball, before edging to first slip off Ashwin.
Earlier in the second session, Virat Kohli was out for 76 from Rahkeem Cornwall as he attempted a backfoot flip through leg-side, but the extra bounce caused a thick inside edge to slide. Kishan’s Test debut consisted of defending, departing, and being beaten twice.
Ravindra Jadeja raked in several boundaries with a cut and luscious cover drive. Kishan was finally off the mark in Test cricket after 19 balls, with a flick off the hip for a single. As soon as he got going, India declared with a 271-run lead on a pitch that was exhibiting signs of rapid degradation.
Previously, outstanding Yashasvi Jaiswal broke the 150-point barrier early in the first session. However, the debutant was out for a huge 171 while Kohli hit his 29th Test fifty as India continued to put the West Indies under pressure, scoring 88 runs in 29 overs in the first session despite the loss of Jaiswal and Ajinkya Rahane.
Source:IANS
