AHMEDABAD: The West Indies found themselves in early trouble on the opening day of the first Test against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday, collapsing to 65 for 4 shortly before lunch after opting to bat first.
The Indian pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah made early inroads into the Caribbean batting line-up, with Siraj picking up three wickets and Bumrah striking once to leave the visitors rattled within the first session.
Siraj exploited the early morning conditions brilliantly, removing both openers and adding a third to his tally before West Indies could steady themselves. Bumrah, operating with his trademark accuracy, added to the pressure with a timely breakthrough.
India, under the leadership of Shubman Gill, entered the match with a balanced side, fielding three spinners — Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar — to support the seam attack. Nitish Reddy, the pace-bowling all-rounder, also found a place in the playing XI.
Despite winning the toss and opting to bat, the West Indies’ decision backfired as their top-order crumbled under disciplined bowling. The absence of any significant partnerships has put the middle order under severe pressure, with skipper Roston Chase and wicketkeeper Shai Hope left with a tall task of rebuilding the innings.
The match marks a crucial series opener, with both sides looking to establish early dominance in the multi-Test contest. With spin expected to play a bigger role as the pitch wears, India’s three-pronged spin attack could become increasingly influential.
Playing XIs:
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (capt), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
West Indies: Tagenarine Chanderpaul, John Campbell, Alick Athanaze, Brandon King, Shai Hope (wk), Roston Chase (capt), Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Khary Pierre, Johann Layne, Jayden Seales.
With four early wickets down and the scoreboard barely past 60, West Indies face an uphill battle to post a competitive total on a surface likely to challenge batters further as the match progresses.
