Opener KL Rahul struck a fine half-century to help India reach 121 for 2 in reply to West Indies' first innings total of 162 on the opening day of the first Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday. At stumps, India were trailing West Indies by 41 runs with eight wickets in hand. After bowling out the visitors for a paltry total in just 44.1 overs, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (36) and Rahul (53 not out) stitched together a 68-run stand for the opening wicket before the former was dismissed. India then lost Sai Sudharsan (7) cheaply before Rahul and skipper Shubman Gill (18 not out) batted out the remaining overs.
India dominated from start to finish on Day 1, putting up a commanding display with both bat and ball. After losing the toss for the sixth consecutive Test, India struck early as Mohammed Siraj tore through the West Indies top order, claiming three wickets in his opening spell to leave them reeling at 42/4. The visitors never recovered and were bundled out for 162, with Justin Greaves top-scoring with 32. KL Rahul then took control of the Indian reply, reaching his 20th Test half-century with ease. Yashasvi Jaiswal looked in sublime touch before gifting his wicket for 36, while Sai Sudharsan failed to make an impact. Shubman Gill, fresh off four hundreds in the last England series, played a solid hand as India sit just 41 runs short of overtaking the West Indies first innings total.
It's stumps on Day 1
KL Rahul (53*) and Shubman Gill (18*) take India to 121/2 at stumps on Day 1, trail West Indies by 41 runs.
Fifty for KL Rahul
KL Rahul brings up his fifty to anchor India’s reply to West Indies’ 162 all out. He reaches his 20th Test fifty in 101 balls with a calm single to mid-on. IND 112/2 in 32.5 overs
100 comes up for India
FOUR! Shubman Gill brings up India's 100 with his first boundary. He comes down the track and flicks to mid wicket for four off Khary Pierre. IND 103/2 in 29.4 overs
Sudharsan goes back
OUT! Roston Chase strikes to give India a second blow. Sai Sudharsan falls cheaply for 7. Sudharsan goes on the back foot to pull and misses and caught plumb in front. An easy call for umpire. IND 90/2 in 24.5 overs
Rahul smashes Khary Pierre
FOUR! KL Rahul dances down the track and drills the drive wide of mid-on for four off Khary Pierre. IND 82/1 in 21.4 overs
Jaiswal departs for 36
OUT! Edged and gone! Jayden Seales strikes to give India a first jolt. A short of length delivery but Seales gets extra bounce. Yashasvi Jaiswal cuts and edges it behind and keeper Shai Hope takes an easy catch. IND 68/1 in 18.2 overs
Jaiswal on the attack!
Yashasvi Jaiswal keeps the pressure on the West Indies attack, starting Warrican's over with back-to-back fours and moving to 36 off 52 balls. IND 68/0 in 18 overs
Rahul on the charge
India enjoy a productive over as KL Rahul smashes Jayden Seales for two boundaries. After a cautious start, the runs are finally beginning to flow for the openers against the West Indies attack. IND 59/0 in 17 overs
Fifty comes up for India
FOUR! Yashasvi Jaiswal is dealing in fours at the moment. He smacks Warrican through covers for another four. Fifty-run stand comes up between Jaiswal and KL Rahul. IND 51/0 in 15.5 overs
Jaiswal takes on Justin Greaves
FOUR! Yashasvi Jaiswal ends the over with another four. He cuts it wide of backward point for third boundary of the over. 14 runs off it. IND 46/0 in 15 overs
Jaiswal gets going
FOUR! Yashasvi Jaiswal breaks the shackles as he smashes Justin Greaves for back-to-back fours. Jaiswal seems to have found his rhythm after a rain break. IND 40/0 in 14.2 overs
First boundary for Jaiswal
FOUR! Yashasvi Jaiswal picks up his first boundary. Greaves bowls overpitched on the pads and Jaiswal flicks it through midwicket for four. IND 28/0 in 12.5 overs
Play resumes after a brief rain interruption
Update: The main cover has come off. Umpires are having a chat