IND vs WI, 2nd Test: Jaiswal’s hundred helps India dominate West Indies on Day 1

Given its listless display in the first Test, the West Indies getting to bat first, on a surface expected to be easier than the Ahmedabad wicket last week, was deemed imperative for a more closely fought second Test. But on Friday, for the first time in his seven Tests as captain, the coin flip favoured Shubman Gill and the visitor’s toil continued in the series.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (173, 253b, 22×4) and Sai Sudharsan (87, 165b, 12×4) relished the true nature of a day one pitch, got together for a 193-run partnership for the second wicket, put the West Indies bowlers through a strenuous opening day and took India to 318 for two at Stumps at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Jaiswal made amends for missing out on a big score in the opener by notching up his seventh Test century, his second against this opposition, in 145 balls. But his brisk strut past the milestone was not indicative of the attritional means he used to wear down the bowlers.

AS IT HAPPENED – IND vs WI Day 1

West Indies pacers enjoyed movement off the surface in the opening hour, and Anderson Phillip induced a false drive from Jaiswal. His missed slash wide outside off against Jayden Seales was down to his error, but these two instances were the only blemishes during a period of stonewalling.

Even after KL Rahul’s back-to-back boundaries against Seales in the ninth over, which he pocketed via a punch off his toes and a clip through mid on, India added 29 runs in the opening 10 overs.

But once the new ball’s shine wore off, so did the West Indies’ discipline. The visiting bowlers went too full and allowed India to shift gears. Jaiswal’s first two boundaries came behind the square as he looked to use pace early on, but in the 13th over, he bludgeoned a drive down the ground against Justin Greaves. His drive was more measured when he picked his second boundary against Greaves three overs later.

Rahul stepped out and hoisted Khary Pierre over long on, but was left to rue his luck when a delivery from Jomel Warrican turned square, uncharacteristically for a first day, and ambushed his venture out of his crease.

Discussions raged on in the lead up to this Test over Sudharsan’s spot, but the southpaw showed no signs of apprehension as he hacked a length ball through midwicket on his first delivery.

India’s first over after Lunch really marked the change in intent as Jaiswal slashed Seales through backward point off successive deliveries before driving him through covers to bring up his fifty.

Sudharsan rocked back into his crease to pick boundaries against the tweakers, his punch against Warrican through mid off being a case in point. He then drove Pierre through covers before trusting his sweep against Warrican for another couple of boundaries.

Instead of searching for reverse swing, the West Indies pacers returned in the second session with a slew of bouncers. But far too many were sprayed off the mark, allowing Sudharsan to either drop his hands or sway out of line. Jaiswal benefitted from one going down leg and smothered it to the fine leg fence.

A reward almost came Greaves’ way when Sudharsan miscued his whip through the on side but Warrican shelled the leading edge at short midwicket. Sudharsan ensured he enjoyed the let-off as he ended India’s 51-ball boundary-less spell with a cut against Greaves.

But his second life was cut short when Warrican’s length delivery zipped through low and trapped Sudharsan plumb.

Captain Gill helped himself to a couple of slog-swept boundaries against Warrican. Seales found the energy for a couple of staredowns with Gill after the second new ball, but it was quickly sapped out of him too when he was driven past mid off in the same over.

Jaiswal was beaten on attempted cover drives as he indulged in the prospect of going after length balls from the tired quicks. But the occasion dawned on him in time, and he showed restraint in the closing overs, setting himself for another big score on the second day.

Published on Oct 10, 2025