India‘s batting riches put them in consummate control of the first Test of their home season, with KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel scoring important centuries.
It was Rahul’s first at home since 2016 and it was Jurel’s first one ever. They now have a lead of 286, which is large enough to potentially shrink this down from a five-day game.
Ravindra Jadeja had an equal part to play on a day where India made 327 runs for just three wickets. There was a point when the pitch started crumbling and West Indies‘ spinners were able to get the ball to turn sharply out of the rough.
India collectively decided to attack them, hoping to throw them off the lengths where they could access the worn out parts of the pitch. Jadeja did this the best. His idea was to charge at the bowler, and every time he did, he was looking to hit a boundary.
Seven of the 11 he ended up with were the result of this ruthless approach, including a six that helped him breeze through the nervous nineties.
Jomel Warrican, Roston Chase and Khary Pierre, in helpful conditions, were left nursing combined figures of 4-283 from 82 overs. Jadeja, meanwhile, helped India reprise a feature of their England tour earlier this year, becoming the third centurion of the innings.
The last time that happened at home was 2018, during West Indies’ last visit to the country. Jadeja connected that trio to this trio.
West Indies could have helped themselves had they begun their day’s work with a bit more hope. Instead the captain Chase welcomed the two overnight batters with a sparsely populated slip cordon.
The focus, it seemed, was run-saving instead of wicket-taking. Jayden Seales, who has a lovely outswinger, snagged Rahul’s edge in the very first over of play but regulation first slip was missing. He had been pushed wide and so this ball just skipped all the way to the boundary.
Rahul survived on 57 and went on to score 100. He celebrated it by raising his bat in one hand and sticking two fingers of the other in his mouth, a little tribute for his new-born daughter.
The next man to three-figures was Jurel. It is clear from the way he bats that he is set up to be consistent. He has good judgment of what to play and what to leave. He’s comfortable in attack and defence.
Some of his back foot shots against pace were chef’s kiss, so that, along with the way he played out the second new ball, suggests he should be able to adapt to overseas conditions. Jurel has a high floor. Rishabh Pant beats him with a high ceiling.
Maybe India might find a way for both players to be part of the XI; trust Jurel to be a specialist batter. His century celebration was a tribute to his father, who was with the Indian army.
West Indies had set themselves up for damage control but in doing so really early, they let India dictate terms. Seales bowled manfully, his pace up around the 140kph mark even at the back end of a very hot day that forced him off the field for a little bit for what looked like cramps.
Warrican was good too, slowing the ball down and inviting India to attack him if they could. Jadeja was the one who rose to that challenge consistently.
He made 92 runs against spin, including 33 off 12 when he chose to come down the track.
The day in Ahmedabad meandered to a close with Pierre enjoying a high that he had chased all his life.
Having been part of the domestic system from the age-group level, having made his first-class debut 10 years ago, he finally took a Test wicket at the age of 34 and his smile lit up the place. (ESPNcricinfo)
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