Resuming at 121/2, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill quickly erased the deficit, with Rahul finally ending his home century drought by scoring 100 off 197 balls, his 11th overall. Gill contributed a solid 98 before falling just after reaching his fifty.
The highlight, however, was the combination of Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja. Jurel notched his maiden Test century in only his sixth match, while Jadeja continued his purple patch, scoring 104. Together, they compiled a 206-run stand for the fifth wicket, narrowly missing the Indian record of 214 held by VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar.
Both batters showcased aggressive yet controlled play — Jurel with a six over midwicket and Jadeja hitting five towering sixes, surpassing MS Dhoni for the most maximums by an Indian in Tests.
KL Rahul celebrated his century for his infant daughter, Jurel saluted the Indian Army, and Jadeja’s familiar sword celebration delighted fans.
India batted with patience and authority, scoring 448/5 in 128 overs at 3.50 runs per over, with 45 boundaries and eight sixes. The West Indies bowling lacked energy, and their spinners could not extract a consistent threat despite appreciable turn and bounce from the rough.
With a 286-run lead and spinners ready to exploit the pitch, India will look to press for a result by the end of Day 3.
The hosts’ disciplined yet aggressive approach has left the West Indies struggling under mounting pressure, setting up a potential early finish and a dominant start in the World Test Championship. Follow all the live updates on TimesofIndia.com!
