On Thursday, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah dominated the West Indies with their fiery bowling in the first Test, held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India bundled out the Windies for just 162 runs, taking a significant early advantage in the match.
Siraj led the assault with impressive figures of 4 wickets for 40 runs, striking three times during a blistering morning spell. He returned after lunch to claim one more wicket, cementing his status as the spearhead of India’s bowling attack. Bumrah supported him beautifully, capturing 3 wickets for just 32 runs, consistently testing the West Indies with his trademark yorkers and exceptional precision.
Additionally, spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/25) and Washington Sundar (1/9) added to the Windies’ woes, as the batting order crumbled under pressure. Justin Greaves, Shai Hope, and skipper Roston Chase provided minor resistance, scoring 32, 26, and 24 runs respectively, but their efforts were not enough to stem the flow of wickets.
In reply, India finished the day at 121 for 2, just 41 runs behind. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal made a brisk contribution of 36 before edging a delivery from Jayden Seales, while debutant B Sai Sudharsan scored a modest 7 runs before being dismissed by Chase.
KL Rahul emerged as the star of the evening session, steadied the innings with an assured 53 not out off 114 balls. His well-paced innings, featuring a mix of caution and aggression, ensured India remained in a strong position. Captain Shubman Gill lent his support with an unbeaten 18, as they navigated through the final overs of the day.
The post-lunch session saw a brief rain interruption, but it did not deter India from asserting their dominance. Rahul’s performance with the bat signaled that India had firmly planted their flags in this two-Test series, aiming for control right from the start. With rain on the horizon, the Indian fans remain optimistic about the team’s prospects.
