On an attritional day in Dominica, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s hundred on Test debut turned out to be the cornerstone of India’s dominance over the West Indies. On the back of hundreds from Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma (103 runs), India progressed to 312 for 2 at stumps, in front by 162 runs.
Most of the action during the course of the day’s play took place in the first two sessions. Rohit and Jaiswal began the day by mixing caution with aggression as they added 66 runs in the morning session. In the afternoon session, when India reached the score of 204, the duo recorded the highest opening stand against the West Indies. In the very next over, Jaiswal celebrated his maiden Test century with a single off Alick Athanaze. Jaiswal soon removed his helmet, roared in delight and soaked in all the applause from the dressing room. Rohit, his captain and batting partner, also gave him a hug.
Jaiswal became the 17th Indian to reach the landmark of scoring a century on Test debut, and at 21 years and 196 days, the fourth youngest. At that stage of the innings, Rohit decided to up the ante. The way he skipped down the deck and lofted one back over Kemar Roach’s head exemplified the point. However, against the run of play, right after completing his 10th Test ton, Rohit gloved one off Athanaze to the wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva. Initially the appeal was turned down by the on-field umpire, but Kraigg Brathwaite got it overturned via the DRS.
For the next few minutes, the West Indies seemed to be in the game as Jomel Warrican dismissed Shubman Gill for just six runs. Gill, batting at the No.3 slot for only the second time in his Test career, pushed at a quicker delivery, with Athanaze grabbing a sharp catch at gully. In their desperation to pick up more wickets, the West Indies burnt all their reviews by the 91st over. And the hosts wasting all their reviews came back to haunt them. In the 103rd over, Roach beat Jaiswal on the inside edge, but his loud appeal for an LBW was turned down by the umpire. After the decision was turned down, in perhaps sheer disbelief, Roach was on his haunches. The DRS later showed all three reds.
Jaiswal stitched an unbeaten alliance of 72 for the third wicket with Virat Kohli (36 not out), as the duo took India to close of play. Kohli’s lone boundary for the day was a drive via extra cover off Warrican as he opted to blunt the West Indies attack. Meanwhile, when the stumps were drawn by the umpires, Jaiswal had played the most deliveries by an Indian on Test debut. The previous record was held by Mohammed Azharruddin – 322 against England at Eden Gardens.
From West Indies’ point of view, there was hardly anything to cheer about. To make matters worse, Brathwaite couldn’t avail the services of Rahkeem Cornwall after the lunch break, as the spinning-all-rounder was laid low by chest infection. The track is offering enough assistance for spinners, but in the absence of Gudakesh Motie, the home side don’t seem to have a spinner who can consistently land the ball in good areas. It brings up a question as to why would the home side prepare a track that is offering some help for the spinners, especially in the backdrop of India having quality spinners in their ranks.