Gujarat,OCT 2
A calm and composed half-century from KL Rahul powered India to 121/2, trailing by 41 runs at the end of Day 1 against the West Indies on Thursday.India lost just two wickets in the third session on Day 1 of the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan falling to the West Indies bowlers.Jaiswal and Rahul opened the innings for India. Host reached 23/0 after 12.4 overs, with both the openers at the crease, when the rain interrupted the game.Before rain interrupted the game’s play, West Indies bowlers tested Indian openers with their tight line and length. After taking some time to settle in, Jaiswal switched gears and started dealing in boundaries after the restart.India reached 59/0 after 17 overs. Jaiswal, trying to be aggressive, lost his wicket in the 19th over. A short length delivery, close to the body, Jaiswal tried to cut and edged it behind to the wicketkeeper.Jayden Seales scalped the first wicket, sending Jaiswal back to the pavilion for 36, and Sai Sudharsan joined Rahul at the crease.At drinks, India reached 83/1 after 22 overs, trailing behind by 79 runs with KL Rahul (39)* and Sai Sudharsan (5)* unbeaten on the crease.West Indies captain Roston Chase picked up a wicket in his first over. It was Sai Sudharsan who had to depart on 7 (19). He tried to pull the ball away but got trapped lbw in front of the stumps.India reached 103/2 after 30 overs, with Rahul and Indian skipper Shubman Gill at the crease. India were trailing the West Indies’ small first innings total of 162 by 59 runs.Rahul completed his 20th Test half-century in 101 deliveries, but also seemed to be struggling with his hamstrings.Earlier in the day, a combined bowling effort from the India bowlers bundled out the West Indies side at a mere total of 162 runs at the end of the second session.For the Shubman Gill-led side, the wicket takers were Mohammed Siraj (4/40 in 14 overs), Jasprit Bumrah (3/42 in 14 overs), Kuldeep Yadav (2/25 in 6.1 overs) and Washington Sundar (1/9 in 3 overs).At the stroke of Tea on Day 1, the West Indies side was bowled out for 162 runs, with left-hand batter Jayden Seales (6*) remaining unbeaten at the end.
The Caribbean side resumed the second session of the day from 90/5 in 23.2 overs with Roston Chase (22*) unbeaten on the crease. Right-hand batter Justin Greeves joined the captain in the middle in the post-lunch session.On the second ball of the 27th over, the Roston Chase-led side crossed the 100-run mark as Mohammed Siraj gave away five wides.
