Ahmedabad, October 4. Vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja delivered a superb all-round performance as India defeated the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs within three days in the opening Test of the two-match series, taking a 1-0 lead. India had declared their first innings at 448 for five, building a lead of 286 runs, while the West Indies were bundled out for 146 in 45.1 overs in their second innings. Jadeja, who had earlier scored an unbeaten century, took four wickets for 54 runs to lead the bowling effort.
As per agency report, the second Test will begin in Delhi on October 10. Captain Shubman Gill described the result as a perfect match for the team, highlighting the three centuries scored and the sharp fielding throughout the game. On the third day, pacers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah exploited the conditions effectively. Siraj claimed four wickets for 40 runs, while Bumrah took three for 42.
In India’s innings, opener KL Rahul struck a century on home soil after nine years, wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel scored his maiden Test hundred, and Jadeja remained unbeaten on 104. Anticipating helpful morning conditions on the third day, India declared their innings overnight. Jadeja then led the spin attack to apply early pressure on the West Indies.
Openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and John Campbell made a cautious start, but Nitish Reddy produced a stunning diving catch at square leg off Siraj to dismiss Chanderpaul for eight, giving India their first breakthrough. Jadeja then dismissed Campbell for 14, while Brendan King, batting at number four, edged to KL Rahul in the slips for five. Captain Roston Chase was removed by spinner Kuldeep Yadav for just one.
Shai Hope attempted a cut shot off Jadeja, only to be caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal with a sharp dive at short third man. Jadeja narrowly missed the feat of scoring a century and taking five wickets in an innings in the same match for the third time in his career, finishing with four wickets. After lunch, Siraj struck twice to dismiss Justin Greaves for 25 and Jomel Warrican without scoring. Washington Sundar removed Alick Athanaze with a return catch, while Kuldeep wrapped up the innings by catching Jayden Seales off his own bowling.
India’s dominant performance, built on strong batting and incisive bowling, gave them a comprehensive victory and a strong start to the series, setting the tone ahead of the second Test in Delhi.
