ROSEAU (Dominica) – In a historic display of dominance, India’s opening batsmen, skipper Rohit Sharma and young sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal, orchestrated a magnificent 229-run partnership, guiding India to a commanding position in the first Test against the West Indies at Windsor Park. This monumental stand not only gave India a substantial lead but also etched their names in the record books.
India’s performance on Day 2 marked the first time in Test history that the team took the lead in the first innings without losing a wicket. It was a testament to the exceptional batting skills and resilience displayed by Rohit and Jaiswal throughout their monumental partnership.
Resuming their innings at 80/0 on Day 2, the Indian openers continued their assault on the West Indies bowlers. With precise strokeplay and astute shot selection, they made merry of the excellent batting conditions on offer. Jaiswal, in particular, brought up his half-century early in the day, while Rohit continued to pile on the runs.
The duo’s partnership was a masterclass in strike rotation and boundary hitting. They never allowed the Windies bowlers to settle down, constantly putting pressure on them. Rohit, in his characteristic aggressive style, dispatched the loose balls to the boundary with remarkable ease. In one over, he took on Alzarri Joseph, smashing him for two boundaries and a maximum.
Rohit’s resilience and determination were evident as he reached his well-deserved century in the 38th over of the game. His innings were a blend of elegance and power, captivating the spectators with his exquisite strokeplay.
However, their monumental stand was finally broken when debutant Alick Athanaze claimed the wicket of Rohit, dismissing him for a brilliant score of 103. Jaiswal, on the other hand, remained composed and continued to defy the West Indies bowlers until the umpires decided to call off the day’s play.
India ended the day with a firm lead of 162 runs, firmly establishing their dominance in the match. The opening stand between Rohit and Jaiswal not only set a new record for India in Tests in the West Indies but also became the highest opening partnership for India against the West Indies, surpassing the previous record held by Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer.
India’s exceptional performance on Day 2 has placed them in a commanding position in the two-match Test series. As the match progresses, the West Indies will need a remarkable fightback to challenge India’s stronghold. With two more days of play remaining, the stage is set for an enthralling battle between the two teams.
Brief Score: West Indies 150 (Alick Athanaze 47, Kraigg Brathwaite 20; Ravichandran Ashwin 5-60);
India 312/1 (Rohit Sharma 103, Yashasvi Jaiswal 146*; Alick Athanaze 1-50).
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