Rahul, Jurel and Jadeja hit centuries to put India in charge against West Indies

KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravindra Jadeja struck centuries to give India a commanding 286-run lead over the West Indies in the first Test at Ahmedabad. The hosts dominated Day Two, leaving the visitors under pressure going into the weekend

Ahmedabad: KL Rahul’s 11th hundred grounded the West Indies before Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja followed suit with stylish tons as India batted the visitors out of the opening Test, taking a huge lead of 286 runs at the end of 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 will 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 off 178 balls) had their own distinct approach to Test match batting and equally interesting ways of celebration.

---

Rahul’s celebration was for his infant daughter, while Jurel’s gun salute was for the Indian Army. Jadeja’s now familiar sword celebration is something fans look forward to.

The West Indies bowling was insipid, and there was a lack of energy on the field, which allowed India to increase their stranglehold on the opposition.

India, through 128 overs, scored at 3.50 runs per over, reminiscent of Test cricket from a bygone era, but also hit 45 boundaries and eight sixes — five of them by Jadeja, all in the same region.

While Rahul ended 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 all-rounder notching up seven scores above 50 in his last six Tests 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, an imposing partnership, narrowly missing the record for the highest fifth-wicket stand for India against West Indies. That record 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 hit 15 fours and three sixes, got an inside edge off Khary Pierre late in the day to be caught behind, marking the debutant’s first wicket in Tests.

On the second day, India opted for a traditional approach with the bat to pile pressure on the West Indies, who, at best, remained disciplined but could not push 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 four, which was enjoyed thoroughly by the Indian captain, who tried to emulate his partner in the next delivery. However, Roston Chase’s (2/90) delivery, which pitched on off, took a leading edge, and Justin Greaves at first slip was nimble 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 included five boundaries.

Rahul continued 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.

Rahul also had some luck early in the first over of the morning when an outside edge from Jayden Seales flew between the wicketkeeper and wide first slip, with neither fielder reacting.

However, Rahul faced a fate similar to Gill’s post-lunch. After defending a few balls from Jomel Warrican, Rahul drove one in the air towards extra cover, where Greaves took a low catch.

With only 57 runs ahead and the second new ball soon to be available to the West Indies, Jurel and Jadeja pressed the accelerator to add 44 runs between overs 70 and 80, but slowed once the visitors gave up the old ball after 97 overs.

Jurel began the counter-attack with a six over midwicket — the first of the game — shortly after Rahul fell, and Jadeja followed with two blows into the stands off Warrican to make intentions clear.

Jadeja was more belligerent during the counter-attack, regularly coming down the wicket to score. With five sixes in the innings, he moved past MS Dhoni in the list for most maximums in Tests for India.

With Warrican attempting to exploit rough patches created from bowlers’ footmarks, it became imperative for the Indian pair to take the attack to the opposition, and both Jurel and Jadeja thwarted the threats with perfection.