Day 2 of the first Test between India and the West Indies sees India in a promising position, poised to build a substantial lead after a dominant performance on the opening day. At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India will resume their innings at 121/2, trailing the West Indies' first innings total of 162 by just 41 runs.
The overnight batsmen, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, will be key to India's ambitions of taking control of the match. Rahul, who ended Day 1 not out on 53, will be aiming to convert his half-century into a big score, potentially his second century at home. Gill, the captain, displayed maturity and patience on the first day to see out the day without losing another wicket. Their partnership will be crucial in the early stages of Day 2 as India looks to surpass the West Indies' total and build a significant lead.
India's strong position was set up by a brilliant bowling display on Day 1, where the West Indies, after winning the toss and electing to bat, were bundled out for a mere 162. Mohammed Siraj led the attack with a four-wicket haul, dismantling the West Indies' top order. Jasprit Bumrah provided excellent support, cleaning up the tail with three wickets. Kuldeep Yadav also made a valuable contribution, picking up a couple of wickets on his return to the Test team. Only Justin Greaves offered some resistance for the West Indies, scoring 32.
Earlier in their innings, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal for 36 and Sai Sudharsan for 7 in quick succession. Jaiswal and Rahul had earlier combined for a 68-run opening stand. A third wicket at the end of the day's play could have swung the momentum back in favour of the West Indies, but Gill's composure ensured India remained in control.
Looking ahead to the morning session, India's immediate goal will be to surpass the West Indies' score of 162 without losing any further wickets. Once they achieve that, the focus will shift to building a substantial lead that will allow them to dictate the terms of the match and bat the West Indies out of the game. With a batting lineup that includes Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar still to come, India has the depth to aim for a significant first-innings total.
