West Indies, even after winning the toss & opting to bat first, have found themselves in a deep muddle. At the end of the morning session,the West Indies have lost half of their side for 90 runs in 23.2 overs. On a greenish surface, Mohammed Siraj was the destroyer in chief. Mohammed Siraj took 3 key wickets for 19 runs in 7 overs.
Mohammed Siraj sets the tone with the new ball
As expected, the surface at Ahmedabad was a green top. The speedsters duo of Jasprit Bumrah & Mohammed Siraj made Caribbean batters dance on their tone by bowling impeccable lines & lengths. There was a soft dismissal of Tagenarine Chanderapaul in the 4th over as he tried to flick the ball but gave a regulation catch to Dhruv Jurel.
It would sound very harsh, but the wicket was no less than a minefield. There was a sharp swing, and when the spinners came into bowl, the rough was also created. We should not be surprised if this Test match doesn’t last 5 days. In the first hour of the session, the West Indies lost 4 wickets as their decision to play attacking cricket backfired cricket as the side was reduced to 42-4 in 11.4 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav gets a massive wicket of Shai Hope
Brandon King’s wicket can be said as the brain-fade moment as he left an in-swinging delivery of Mohammed Siraj. Shai Hope & Roston Chase tried to rebuild the innings as the surface had ample demons in it. The partnership was looking way more promising, and it looked like the duo would bail out in the morning session.
Kuldeep Yadav, who was bowling the 24th over, castled his stumps as Shai Hope’s ambitious cover drive cost him his stumps. Shai Hope’s half-hearted start of 26 runs in 36 balls didn’t help & benefit the team that much. West Indies’ coach Darren Sammy was dejected after the dismissal of Shai Hope as the start was no less than a disastrous one for the visiting team.
What lies ahead for India & West Indies in the afternoon session
India has to bat last on this surface unless and until they get a big score and a lead in the 1st innings. Shubman Gill would be tempted to give a long spell to Kuldeep Yadav, who can rip apart the whole West Indies batting line-up. West Indies, on the other hand, needs to make sure that they don’t lose wickets in clusters. It’s somewhat clear that if West Indies get a score around 300 then they might have an outside chance.