For the first time in this series, India faced some resistance from the West Indies batters. Kraigg Brathwaite (37 not out) and Taegnarine Chanderpaul (33) were not dominating, but dogged, and helped their team to get off to a steady start in response to the visiting side’s 438. The opening partnership of 71 runs took West Indies to 86-1at stumps on Day 2 of the second and final Test. The highest partnership for Brathwaite’s team in the first Test was just 41.
The highlight from an Indian point of view on a rather uneventful day was Virat Kohli’s 29th Test century. The knock of 121 was his first in three figures away from home in almost five years, after the 123 against Australia in Perth in December 2018. He started on a confident note and it did not take long for the boundaries to start flowing. Like the previous day, his driving through the off side was flawless. Runs were coming at a fair clip and Kohli looked set for a bigger one before being run out.
Ravindra Jadeja, who brought up his 19th half-century in the same over which Kohli completed his hundred, fell soon after. Their fifth-wicket partnership of 159 had put India back on track after a wobble in the second session on Day 1. This left the stage set for Ishan Kishan to display his batting skills in the longest format of the game. Although sent in at No. 7, the wicketkeeper playing his second Test had Ravichandran Ashwin for company.
The left-hand batter pushed towards cover for a couple off the first ball he faced and stepped out to lift left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican over his head for four off the third. He hit three more fours and moved to 25 fairly quickly. That’s when something snapped and Kishan fell chasing one from Jason Holder which could have been ruled wide in a limited-over game.
The responsibility of pushing the total closer to 450 fell on Ashwin, who tried his best before being the last man out. He played some pleasing strokes and also a couple of ramp shots to register his 14th half-century (57). This was the first time in five occasions that Ashwin failed to get to a hundred after crossing 50 against the West Indies.
If the India fans expected the West Indies to cave in, they were in for a surprise. Like their Caribbean counterparts, the Indian pacers failed to extract movement in the air or off the pitch. Debutant Mukesh Kumar was accurate but got just four overs. There was some slow turn which was negotiated by the openers. While Brathwaite was confident from the beginning, Chanderpaul was circumspect before opening up once he settled down. A rush of blood undid him towards the close of play.
With a lead of 352 runs, India are still in the driver’s seat, considering the home team’s tendency to collapse in a heap. The pitch is good for batting, but there are indications that the ball might turn in the latter stages. Ashwin and Jadeja remain India’s trump cards in their quest for a series sweep.
Also Read: Steady Kohli Builds on Opening Partnership to Give India the Edge