India had a dominant start on Day 1 of the first Test against West Indies, dismissing the hosts for just 150 runs before finishing the day at 80 without loss. Ravichandran Ashwin showcased his brilliance with the ball, claiming his 33rd five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Ravindra Jadeja also contributed with three wickets, leaving the Windies batsmen struggling against the spin duo. Making his debut, Yashasvi Jaiswal had a solid outing, remaining unbeaten on 40 off 73 deliveries in his maiden Test innings.
Shubman Gill, who moved to the No. 3 position following Cheteshwar Pujara’s omission, Rahul Dravid approached himself, expressing his desire to bat at that spot. Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, revealed the conversation, stating that Gill felt more comfortable in that role as he had played most of his cricketing career batting at No. 3.
As India approached the end of West Indies’ innings, requiring just one wicket to wrap up their batting order, Shubman displayed his joyous mood. Standing at the forward short-leg position, he broke into a dance alongside Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.
ALSO READ: Shubman Gill Reveals Decision To Bat At No. 3, Backed By Indian Team Management
Considered one of the most talented young batsmen of his generation, Shubman, at the age of 23, has already secured his place in the Indian squads across all formats. However, batting at No. 3 in international cricket poses a new challenge for him, despite his experience playing that position in domestic cricket.
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He is truly enjoying the Caribbean atmosphere 🥳 🎉🕺🏻#INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/jZRlqFdofl
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 12, 2023
Earlier in the match, West Indies, led by Kraigg Brathwaite, won the toss and chose to bat in Dominica. However, they suffered early dismissals, with off-spinner Ashwin wreaking havoc in the middle. By lunch, the hosts were struggling at 68/4. Only Alick Athanaze (47) showed some resistance against the Indian bowlers, but he too fell victim to Ashwin’s brilliance. The off-spinner finished with impressive figures of 5/60 in 24.3 overs.
Alongside Yashasvi, Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 30 off 65 deliveries. At the end of the day, India trailed by 70 runs with all ten wickets intact.
ALSO READ: Ravichandran Ashwin Overcomes Jet Lag Challenge To Shine In Dominica Test
India’s strong start and Ashwin’s exceptional performance have put them in a commanding position in the first Test. With Shubman Gill’s positive mindset and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s promising debut, India will be eager to continue their dominance in the upcoming days of the match.
