Mohammed Siraj delivered a thrilling opening spell and fell short of a significant five-wicket haul as India dismissed a weak West Indies side for 162 on the first day of the first Test on Thursday.

Siraj's sharp burst in the morning session set the tone for India. The paceman dismissed the West Indies' top order in a deadly seven-over spell with the new ball, claiming three wickets. After lunch, he added a fourth wicket with the delivery of the day: an angled in-seamer which squared up Roston Chase (24) and encouraged a dubious edge that left wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel frantic. Siraj nearly entered the five-for club twice: once when Greaves overturned an LBW decision based on DRS, and once when an edge fell short of the slips. He finished with 4 for 40, with equal measure of accuracy and perseverance.

At the other end, Jasprit Bumrah found his rhythm with the red ball, combining incisive seam movement with trademark yorkers while finishing with figures of 3 for 42. His dismissals of Greaves (32) and debutant Johann Layne (1) with nearly unplayable yorkers underscored his increasing menace as India’s pace spearhead.

The spin department was used sparingly, but did their part. Kuldeep Yadav (2/25) bowled a peach of a delivery to castle Shai Hope early in the day, then wrapped up the innings by having Jomel Warrican (8) caught behind off a failed reverse sweep. Washington Sundar, the last bowler introduced, chipped in by trapping debutant Khary Pierre (11) leg-before after KL Rahul dropped a low catch off Greaves.

The West Indies’ resistance chiefly came from all-rounder Greaves with a composed 32, which included four boundaries. His 39-run seventh-wicket stand with Pierre advanced the total to more than 150 and prevented total collapse, but once that camaraderie was broken, the tail fell away.

The West Indies innings was closed out for 44.1 overs, dismissed just before tea. The pitch, which was challenging in the morning under the new ball, relaxed later in the session, but the Indian bowlers had already done sufficient damage.