With a stunning unbroken 143 on her debut, Yashasvi Jaiswal stole the show for India, who firmly controlled the first Test against the West Indies. Meanwhile, skipper Rohit Sharma hit his tenth Test century.
On the second day of the first Test on Thursday, India achieved a dominant 312 for two in their first innings in response to West Indies’ 150 all out, with Jaiswal scoring a mature hundred and Rohit leaving after a well-made 103.
Jaiswal, who resumed day two’s play on 40 not out, was watchful, yet positive during his stay at the crease. He accelerated after the lunch break and completed a well-made hundred in 215 balls, laced with 11 boundaries.
Jaiswal batted the entire second day and was supported well by Virat Kohli (36 batting, 96 balls) as the duo stitched a solid 72-run stand for the third wicket.
The opener completed his hundred on Test debut in the 70th over when the opening stand with captain Rohit Sharma had crossed 200. This is India’s highest opening partnership in West Indies in Test cricket as Jaiswal also became the first Indian opener to make a Test hundred on debut outside home.
Shubman Gill (6), who was batting at position three, lost his wicket early. At the time of stumps, Jaiswal was seated at the crease with Virat Kohli (batting 36).
India presently has a 162-run lead against West Indies. With his five-wicket haul earlier on Day 1, Ravichandran Ashwin gave India the upper hand. Apart from him, spinner Ravindra Jadeja also took a three-wicket haul.
Currently batting on 143, Jaiswal is only 44 runs short of Shikhar Dhawan’s 187 which is the highest individual score by an Indian batter on Test debut. With Kohli and Jaiswal in the middle, India will be looking to build a big lead on Day 3 at Windsor Park in Dominica.