Ravichandran Ashwin Stars For India as India Dominate the Morning Session of the 1st Test match which kicked off today between India and West Indies which sees the West Indies reduced to 68/4 at Lunch Break. Ravichandran Ashwin took 2 scalps and bowled impeccable lines & lengths.
The Debutants:
Before the match began, the legendary West Indies opener Desmond Haynes presented Alice Athanze with her debut cap, an honor for the young cricketer whereas Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal were given the Test Caps by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma respectively.
TOSS AND TEAMS:
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to capitalize on the conditions. The decision seemed surprising, considering the overcast skies and moisture present in the pitch. However, the Indian seamers had different plans in mind. Both the Teams went in with Two Spinners. India made several changes to their 11 as Jaydev Unadkat returned to the squad and Ravichandran Ashwin and Gill made a comeback to the 11 as well
THE FIRST HOUR:
As the match got underway, it was clear that Siraj struggled to find his rhythm in his first spell, while Unadkat bowled with tight lines and looked in great rhythm. Unfortunately for Unadkat, he was unlucky not to get the wickets he deserved. The West Indies openers, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kraigg Brathwaite, appeared solid in the first hour, frustrating the Indian bowlers.
RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN THE GO TO MAN:
Sensing the need for a breakthrough, Captain Rohit Sharma brought Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack early. The moisture in the pitch proved to be a masterstroke for Ashwin as he produced a peach of a delivery to remove Chanderpaul, ending his promising innings. Shortly after, Ravichandran Ashwin struck again, dismissing the West Indies captain Brathwaite, who played a shocking rash shot after a decent start.
Ashwin continued to trouble the batsmen and nearly claimed another wicket as Jermaine Blackwood survived a close call when the umpire’s call saved him from being given out lbw. It was evident that Ashwin’s exclusion from the playing XI in the recent World Test Championship (WTC) Final had sparked discussions among fans and experts, as his performance once again showcased his prowess.
Throughout the session, Ravichandran Ashwin displayed great control, varying his pace to extract extra turn and bounce from the pitch. His ability to adapt to the conditions highlighted the value he brings to the Indian team. Fans and experts couldn’t help but wonder if his inclusion in the WTC Final could have made a significant difference.
INDIAN SEAMERS IMPRESS AFTER THE DRINKS BREAK:
Captain Rohit reintroduced Siraj for his second spell, and this time, the pacer found his rhythm. Constantly attacking the outside off stump channel, Siraj troubled West Indies batsman Raymon Reifer, who eventually succumbed to the pressure and edged a delivery of Shardul Thakur to debutant wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. It was a memorable moment for Kishan, claiming his first dismissal as a Test cricket wicket keeper.
DEBUTANT ATHANZE LOOKING SOLID:
Debutant Athanze and Blackwood attempted to rebuild the West Indies innings after the loss of quick wickets. Athanze impressed with elegant stroke play, displaying glimpses of her potential. However, the partnership was short-lived as Blackwood’s aggressive shot found the hands of Siraj, who took a one-handed blinder at mid-off, ending his time at the crease.
SUMMARY OF THE SESSION:
At the end of the session, it was India who emerged victorious. The decision of West Indies to bat first had not worked in their favor, as they struggled to gain a firm control over their innings. The onus was now on Athanze, along with the experienced Jason Holder, to salvage the innings and guide West Indies to a respectable total in their first innings.
As the players headed back to the dressing room for a well-deserved break, Indian bowlers had their tails up and were determined to wrap up the West Indies innings as soon as possible. The upcoming sessions promised to be an intriguing battle between bat and ball, with both teams striving to gain the upper hand in this crucial Test match.
SOME TRIVIA:
In an interesting trivia, Ashwin became the first Indian bowler to take the wickets of both a father-son duo in Test cricket. He had previously dismissed Shivnarine Chanderpaul in 2011, and now he added Tagenarine Chanderpaul to his list of illustrious victims in 2023.
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