India beat West Indies by an innings and 92 runs to register a comprehensive victory in the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series.
India totally outclassed their opponents in all three departments of the game. Virat Kohli elected to bat first after winning the toss. Losing Murali Vijay India suffered an early jitter. There was a partnership between Pujara and Dhawan which steadied India for a while but Pujara lost his patience immediately after lunch, playing a loose shot, losing his wicket to Devandra Bishoo.
In came captain Virat Kohli and started attacking from the word go, playing some beautiful strokes all around the park and putting pressure on the bowlers. On the other end Dhawan played a crucial innings of 82 before being trapped in front of the wicket. Rahane played a cameo but could not capitalise on the start.
Ravichandaran Ashwin was promoted up the order by the team and he did not fail to impress playing an excellent hand scoring a century. He along with Kohli laid foundation for a mammoth score of 566. Virat Kohli scored his first international double hundred, leading his team from the front. R Ashwin also scored his third international century proving his all-round skills yet again. Amit Mishra chipped in with a fifty as well contributing well for the team.
Shanon Gabriel was the pick of West Indian bowlers bowling excellent line and length throughout the game. Devandra Bishoo picked up three wickets as well.
When West Indies came into bat they had a huge task up front as India had put on a very big total on the board. Started off slowly, they ended Day 2 at 21/1. As soon as Day 3 started Indian fast bowlers came to the party picking up wickets at regular intervals. K Braithwate held one end up but could do nothing as wickets kept falling on the other end. Mohammad Shami, returning to the Indian team after a while, bowled an excellent spell and put West Indies on the back foot. Umesh Yadav played an excellent hand to Mohammmad Shami, both claiming four wickets each. It was first time after 2012 that Umesh Yadav picked more than four wickets in an innings. None of the West Indies batsman got going and their first innings was wrapped for 231.
Virat Kohli decided to enforce follow on and put West Indies into bat. Early wickets fell for West Indies in the second innings as well and none of the West Indies’ batsman could find their groove. Marlon Samuels did put up some resistance, but was clean bowled by a pinch of a delivery by R Ashwin. Samuels was stunned by the drift of the delivery which beat him completely. Ashwin bowled a beautiful spell picking up seven wickets and claiming his career best figures of 7/83, which took India to a comprehensive victory by an innings and 92 runs.
R Ashwin for his all-round skills was named the man of the match. It was an excellent captaincy from Virat Kohli as he led his team from the front with his batting and making some excellent bowling changes. India now lead the four-match series 1-0.
