Centuries from debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma help India end Day 2 with a 162-run lead
On Day 2 of the current first Test match at Windsor Park in Dominica, India managed to draw a sizable lead over the West Indies thanks to hundreds from openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma.
India scored 245-2 in 81 overs at Tea on Day 2 in response to the West Indies’ first-innings score of 150. The visitors have increased their advantage to 162 runs as a result of the opening partnership that set a record between Jaiswal and Rohit.
After the visitors lost skipper Rohit (103) and Shubman Gill (6) in the previous session, ton-up Jaiswal (143) and Virat Kohli (36) propelled Team India to 312/2, turning the series opener into a one-sided contest.
Earlier, the hosts were dismissed for 150 runs thanks to R Ashwin’s five-wicket haul and Ravindra Jadeja’s three wicket haul. Alick Athanaze led the West Indies in scoring with a performance of 47 runs off 99 balls.
IND vs WI 1st Test: Century on Test debut for Yashasvi Jaiswal under the lights of fellow Mumbaikar
The Mumbai style of batting advocates not giving up your wicket when the bowling stops being a serious threat, but rather filling your boots when the chance arises.
On Day 2 of the first Test against the West Indies in Dominica, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma carried out that action. The former in particular, who is also a Mumbaikar, displayed maturity beyond his 21 years of age by scoring a hundred on his Test debut and putting up a double-century opening partnership with his captain, who also contributed to a ton.
After jabbing the ball into the leg-side for his 100th run, Jaiswal leaped into the air with both arms raised and a bright smile on his face, making all the trials and sacrifices he had to make throughout his formative years worthwhile.
Young Jaiswal displaying a complete Test-match batting in his maiden International Test
For seasoned batters, playing 350 balls in an inning is a commendable accomplishment. In his first game for India, Jaiswal repeated what he had previously done in first-class cricket at home. He had a stronghold on the game and was unbeaten at 143 at the end, leading India to 312/2, a margin of 162.
Late in the day, when an LBW appeal off of Kemar Roach was denied, a choice that would have been reversed on review, Jaiswal deserved the bit of good fortune. The West Indies, however, had already wasted three reviews.
The dry pitch at Windsor Park was offering considerable turn, but Rahkeem Cornwall and Jamal Warrican are no world-beaters with hundreds of wickets under their belt. The former any way had to leave the field pretty early in the piece, forcing skipper Kraigg Brathwaite to bowl all but two of his players – including himself – without much return.
They bowled with the old ball for 100 overs, keeping a lid on the scoring rate for most of the day. The Indians, too, were not in too much of a hurry, and were content in ensuring that there was as much wear and tear on the surface as possible. As a result, the 90 overs in the day yielded only 232 runs.
Centurion Jaiswal makes sure that he is not forgotten for ages
The West Indian bowling attack is not the most potent currently, but one must deal with what is in front of them. Rohit and Jaiswal put their heads down with the goal of forcing the hosts out of the game and India having to bat only once in the game. The likes of Vijay Merchant, Dilip Sardesai, Sunil Gavaskar, and Sachin Tendulkar would make it a point to make it count when they got in and not get too carried away when runs came too easily.
Rohit and Jaiswal could have successfully cemented an opening combination, a left-right partnership to boot, that could serve India with distinction over the following couple of years by imitating the titans of the past. It suddenly doesn’t seem like such a bad idea for Shubman Gill to move down to No. 3 in order to offer Jaiswal his desired position.
Jaiswal may have faced stronger bowling assaults in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League, but he displayed incredible maturity and composure to bat for a very long time. In fact, one can be forgiven for forgetting that this is his first appearance in India colors.
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