The opening day of the second and final Test between India and West Indies went on expected lines, as the hosts dominated the proceedings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium with Yashasvi Jaiswal slamming an unbeaten 173 to power India to a commanding 318/2 at stumps, here on Friday.
The left-hander’s dominance, combined with Sai Sudharsan’s composed 87, left the visitors chasing leather for most of the day after skipper Shubman Gill won his first toss in seven Tests and opted to bat first on a placid surface.
Jaiswal and KL Rahul began cautiously, grinding through a watchful first hour that saw India crawl to 29 without loss after 12 overs. Debutant Anderson Phillip generated some movement with the new ball and came close with an LBW shout against Jaiswal, which was turned down on the umpire’s call. But the hosts shifted gears soon after, with Jaiswal and Rahul finding rhythm against the seamers. Jaiswal’s fluent straight drive off Phillip signalled the change in tempo, while Rahul launched Jomel Warrican for a towering 81-metre six.
However, Warrican struck back emphatically, turning one sharply from the rough to beat Rahul’s charge and have him stumped for 43. The delivery spun prodigiously, a stark contrast to the modest turn of his previous two balls, leaving Rahul stranded well out of his crease.
Rahul’s dismissal brought in Sai Sudharsan, who settled quickly, clipping a low full toss from Warrican to the fence to get off the mark. Alongside Jaiswal, he rebuilt steadily as India reached 94/1 at lunch.
Post-lunch, Jaiswal unleashed his full range. He cut Jayden Seales for three boundaries in an over to reach his half-century, and soon after, the second-wicket pair brought up a 100-run stand off just 141 deliveries. The West Indies bowlers struggled for control, with Jaiswal’s shot selection and Sudharsan’s poise compounding their woes.
By tea, Jaiswal had brought up his seventh Test hundred; only Sachin Tendulkar (11) had more before turning 24, underlining his extraordinary consistency since debuting in 2023. Sudharsan too looked set for a maiden ton but perished on 87, edging one from Warrican, who finished as the lone bright spot for the visitors with two wickets.
Despite the breakthrough, the West Indies failed to capitalise, as Gill joined Jaiswal to guide India safely to stumps. The pair added an unbroken 31, ensuring a dominant finish to a day that was largely one-way traffic.
Jaiswal, who has made a habit of converting starts into big scores, with four of his six previous centuries turning into 150-plus knocks, looked untroubled throughout. His exquisite cover drive in the 88th over, struck with minimal effort past a packed off-side, was the perfect summary of his authority.
At stumps, Jaiswal’s unbeaten 173 had India firmly in control, with Gill solid on 15. For the West Indies, it turned out to be another ordinary day on the field, with most of their bowlers, much like their body language, lacking the sting to trouble a dominant home side.
Brief Scores: India 318/2 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 173*, Sai Sudharsan 87; Jomel Warrican 2-60) vs West Indies