Ind Vs WI Test Series: Jurel’s maiden ton, Rahul, Jadeja’s centuries put India on top
Ahmedabad, Oct 3: KL Rahul's 11th hundred grounded the West Indies before Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja followed suit with stylish tonnes as India literally batted the visitors out of the opening Test, taking a huge lead of 286 runs at the end of the second day's play. At stumps, India were 448 for 5, and with the West Indies spinners getting appreciable turn and bounce off the rough, the hosts would like to finish the game by the end of the third day itself and consolidate their position in the World Test Championship points table.
Rahul (100 off 197 balls), Jurel (125 off 210 balls) and Jadeja (104 batting off 178 balls) had their own distinct approach to Test match batting and even interesting ways of celebrating.
Rahul's was for his infant daughter, while Jurel's gun salute was for the Indian Army, while Jadeja's now familiar sword celebration is something people wait for.
The West Indies bowling was insipid, and there was a lack of energy on the field, which also enabled India to actually increase their stranglehold on the opposition.
India, through 128 overs, scored at 3.50 runs per over, which is reminiscent of Test cricket from a bygone era, but also hit 45 boundaries and eight sixes -- five of them by Jadeja, the same shot in the same region.
While Rahul brought an end to his century drought at home by hitting his second century since December 2016, Jurel brought up his maiden Test century in only his sixth Test for India, having made his debut last year.
Jadeja, whose purple patch saw the venerable all-rounder notching up his seventh score in the last six tests in excess of 50, including two hundreds since the England tour, brought up his sixth century in the format.
Jurel and Jadeja put on 206 runs for the fifth wicket for an imposing fifth-wicket stand, but they also narrowly missed breaking the record for the highest fifth-wicket partnership for India against the West Indies, which belonged to VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar, who put on 214 runs at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens in October 2002.
The partnership ended when Jurel, who smacked 15 fours and three sixes, got an inside edge off Khary Pierre late in the day to be caught behind for the West Indies debutant’s maiden wicket in Tests.
On the second day, India opted for a traditional approach with the bat to pile up immense pressure on the West Indies, who, at best, remained disciplined but could not put pressure back on the hosts.
Gill and Rahul resumed India’s innings at 121 for 2, and by drinks in the first session, the deficit of 41 runs was erased, with the two batters going about their jobs with ease.
In the 56th over off Pierre, Rahul reverse-swept a ball for a four, which was enjoyed thoroughly by the Indian captain, who tried to emulate his partner in the next. However, Roston Chase’s (2/90) delivery, which pitched on off, took a leading edge, and Justin Greaves in first slip was nimble to move in the direction of the ball to grab an easy catch.
Gill, who added 98 runs for the third wicket with Rahul, fell immediately after completing his half-century. His innings had five boundaries.
But Rahul carried on to bring up only his second century at home in nine years and 11th overall. The right-handed batter had scored 199 in the Chennai Test against England in December 2016, and since then a triple-figure score had remained elusive.
