NEW DELHI: KL Rahul's 11th Test hundred set the tone for India as the West Indies struggled, with Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja following suit with stylish centuries. By the close of Day 2, India dominated the opening Test with a massive 286-run lead, finishing on 448/5.

With West Indies spinners getting turn and bounce off the rough, India will aim to wrap up the game by the end of Day 3 and strengthen their position in the World Test Championship points table.

Rahul (100 off 197 balls), Jurel (125 off 210 balls), and Jadeja (104 off 176 balls) each brought their own distinct style to Test batting, complemented by memorable celebrations.

Rahul's gesture was dedicated to his infant daughter, Jurel's gun salute honored the Indian Army, and Jadeja's now-iconic sword celebration continues to thrill fans.

The West Indies bowling lacked intensity, and the fielding showed little energy, allowing India to tighten their grip on the opposition.

Across 128 overs, India scored at a measured rate of 3.50 runs per over, reminiscent of traditional Test cricket, while also finding the boundary 45 times and clearing the ropes eight times — five of those from Jadeja, all with the same shot in the same area.

KL Rahul ended his home century drought with his second hundred since December 2016, while Dhruv Jurel brought up his maiden Test century in just his sixth Test after debuting last year. Ravindra Jadeja, in remarkable form, recorded his sixth Test century, marking his seventh score above 50 in the last six Tests, including two hundreds since the England tour.

Jurel and Jadeja put on 206 runs for the fifth wicket for an imposing fifth-wicket stand, but they also narrowly missed breaking the record for highest fifth wicket partnership for India against West Indies, which belonged to VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar who put on 214 runs at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens in October 2002.

The partnership ended when Jurel, who smacked 15 fours and three sixes got an inside edge off Khary Pierre late in the day to be caught behind for the West Indies debutant’s maiden wicket in Tests.

On the second day, India opted for a traditional approach with the bat to pile up immense pressure on the West Indies, who, at the best, remained disciplined but could not put pressure back on the hosts.

Gill and Rahul resumed India’s innings at 121 for 2 and by drinks in the first session, the deficit of 41 runs was erased with the two batters going about their jobs with ease.

In the 56th over off Pierre, Rahul reverse-swept a ball for a four which was enjoyed thoroughly by the Indian captain who tried to emulate his partner in the next. However, Roston Chase’s (2/90) delivery, which pitched on off, took a leading edge and Justin Greaves in first slip was nimble to move in direction of the ball to grab an easy catch.

Gill, who added 98 runs for the third wicket with Rahul, fell immediately after completing his half-century. His innings had five boundaries.

But Rahul carried on to bring up only his second century at home in nine years and 11th overall. The right-handed batter had scored 199 in the Chennai Test against England in December 2016 and since then a triple-figure score had remained elusive.

Rahul also had his share of luck early on in the first over of the morning when an outside edge of Jayden Seales flew between the wicketkeeper and wide first slip, with neither of the fielders reacting.

However, Rahul too had a fate similar to Gill’s as he fell in the first over post the lunch break. Having defended a few off Jomel Warrican, Rahul drove one but in the air towards extra cover where Greaves took a low catch.

With only 57 runs ahead and a second new ball soon to be available to the West Indies, both Jurel and Jadeja pressed on the accelerator to add 44 runs between overs 70 and 80 but slowed down with the scoring once the visitors gave up the old ball after 97 overs.

Jurel began the counter-attack with a six over midwicket - first of the game - sometime after Rahul fell in the first over post resumption and Jadeja soon chimed in with two blows into the stands off Jomel Warrican to make intentions clear.

Jadeja was more belligerent of the two during the counter-attack as he regularly came down the wicket to get his runs, and with five sixes in the innings he also moved past MS Dhoni in the list to have hit most maximums in Tests for India.

With Warrican trying to exploit the rough patches created from bowlers' footmarks at one end, it became imperative for the Indian pair to take the attack back to the opposition and both Jurel and Jadeja thwarted the threats with perfection.

(With PTI Inputs)