Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
Ahmedabad, Oct 2: A fiery spell of fast bowling from Mohammed Siraj (4/38) and Jasprit Bumrah (3/41) dismantled the West Indies batting lineup, bundling them out for 162 in just 44.1 overs on the opening day of the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Opting to bat first on a lively green surface, the West Indies never found their footing. Reduced to 90/5 at lunch, they were bowled out shortly after, with the tea break taken early. Siraj struck early and often, setting the tone with three of the first four wickets, while Bumrah cleaned up the tail with trademark precision.
Only Justin Greaves (32) and Shai Hope (26) offered any real resistance, as the rest of the lineup failed to show the application required in red-ball cricket. Siraj's new-ball spell was particularly devastating, using seam, swing, and bounce to tear through the top order.
The post-lunch session saw Siraj continuing his assault, removing Roston Chase with a delivery angled in from wide of the crease, caught behind by Dhruv Jurel. He nearly bagged a fifth wicket, but a review saved Greaves from an lbw call. Despite the miss, Siraj maintained a relentless rhythm.
Washington Sundar joined the action, trapping Khary Pierre lbw, before Bumrah returned with two lethal inswinging yorkers, uprooting Greaves and Johann Layne. Kuldeep Yadav wrapped up the innings by removing Jomel Warrican, with sharp glove work from Jurel behind the stumps.
Earlier, West Indies got off to a horror start. Tagenarine Chanderpaul, returning after 21 months, fell for a duck in the opening over, feathering a leg-side delivery to Jurel off Siraj. John Campbell followed shortly, dismissed on review off Bumrah. Brandon King briefly looked aggressive with three boundaries, but misjudged a ball from Siraj that crashed into his stumps. Alick Athanaze edged to second slip after an airy drive, handing Siraj his third wicket.
At 42/4, the West Indies were reeling before a 48-run stand between Hope and Chase brought some stability. Hope, in particular, looked solid, playing confidently off the back foot and driving fluently. But just before lunch, Kuldeep delivered a beauty — a dipping, turning ball that breached Hope’s defence and rattled his stumps.
From there, India made light work of the rest of the batting lineup in the second session, keeping the pressure on with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding.
With a modest total on the board and their bowlers in top form, India walked off the field firmly in command, eyeing a strong first-innings response to pile pressure on a fragile West Indies bowling attack.
Brief Scores:
West Indies 162 all out in 44.1 overs (Justin Greaves 32, Shai Hope 26; Mohammed Siraj 4/38, Jasprit Bumrah 3/41) vs India.