West Indies collapsed in 89.2 overs, scoring just 46 in second innings as India’s pacers dominated throughout
Ahmedabad
India crushed the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs in the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The win came before the tea break on the third day, giving captain Shubman Gill a memorable start to his home Test leadership.
Vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja led the charge with figures of 4 for 54, while his unbeaten 104 in the first innings earned him player-of-the-match honors. India declared at 488/5, built on centuries from Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, and KL Rahul, leaving the visitors struggling from the start.
The West Indies’ batting collapsed twice, lasting only 89.2 overs across both innings. Despite some resistance from Alick Athanaze (38) and Justin Greaves (25), they folded for just 46 in their second innings. India’s pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, struck early, with Siraj removing Tagenarine Chanderpaul after a sharp short ball.
Nitish Kumar Reddy impressed in the field with a stunning diving catch, while Jadeja’s spin masterclass removed key batters including John Campbell and Brandon King. Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar chipped in to complete the demolition.
The West Indies’ poor batting and ineffective bowling underlined their ongoing struggles in Test cricket. Their challenge now will be to regroup quickly before the second and final Test begins in New Delhi on October 10. For India, the win marked a confident return to form after their 3-0 series loss to New Zealand last year.
