Vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja turned the third day of the opening Test against the West Indies into a masterclass of all-round cricket. After India declared overnight on 448 for 5, holding a massive 286-run lead, Jadeja followed up his unbeaten century with a four-wicket haul as the visitors were bowled out for 146 in just 45.1 overs. India secured a comprehensive innings and 140-run victory inside three days to take a 1-0 lead in the series. West Indies started their second innings trailing by a huge margin and struggled from the outset. Jadeja struck early, dismissing John Campbell for 43 and Brandon King for 5, before claiming Shai Hope and Johann Layne as the batting line-up continued to collapse. Mohammed Siraj was equally effective, picking up three wickets including that of opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul for 8. Kuldeep Yadav contributed two wickets while Washington Sundar accounted for Alick Athanaze.
India’s dominance was highlighted by the fall of wickets, with the visitors losing their first five wickets for just 46 runs. The team offered little resistance, with only Alick Athanaze reaching a respectable 38 and Justin Greaves scoring 25. Extras were minimal at five, reflecting the control India maintained throughout. Skipper Shubman Gill praised the performance at the post-match presentation, saying it was the perfect game for India, with three centuries and outstanding fielding. The match began with India’s declaration, designed to exploit the morning conditions. Openers Chanderpaul and Campbell initially showed promise, but Nitish Reddy’s brilliant square-leg catch gave Siraj the first breakthrough. Jadeja’s spin then dismantled the middle order, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal producing sharp catches to leave West Indies tottering. Kuldeep Yadav’s clever fielding and bowling finished the job as India asserted complete control of the Test. The second Test is scheduled in New Delhi from October 10 to 14, with India firmly in command after a dominant start.
