In the first Test between West Indies and India, Ishan Kishan made his long-awaited Test debut. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and chose to bat on Day 1 of the series opener in Dominica. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma introduced off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin early inside the first ten overs, and it proved to be a fruitful decision as Ashwin dismissed both the openers.
First, Ashwin clean bowled Tagenarine Chanderpaul, and then Brathwaite’s top edge was caught by Rohit at covers. Shardul Thakur also played his part by taking the wicket of Raymon Reifer. However, the credit for the wicket goes to debutant Kishan, who took a brilliant diving catch. It was a fuller and wider delivery from Thakur, and Reifer went for an extravagant drive but only managed to get a faint edge. The Ranchi-born cricketer dived forward and stretched both his hands to complete the catch, marking his first catch in Test cricket.
Here’s the video:
Lord Shardul Thakur doesn’t waste time.
Also, Ishan Kishan’s maiden Test catch 😍
..#INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/kufukYWBfo
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 12, 2023
Kishan continued his impressive performance in the field by taking another grab in the 32nd over of the match. West Indies’ wicket-keeper batter Joshua Da Silva attempted to cut a delivery from left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja but edged the ball. The 24-year-old initially fumbled but showed great composure to complete the catch on the rebound.
Here’s the video:
Kishan's a keeper 🔒💪
Sharp work behind the stumps by the debutant 😍#WIvIND #SabJawaabMilenge #JioCinema pic.twitter.com/2n2bTXLtPr
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) July 12, 2023
Earlier, Kishan was given a Test cap, replacing Kona Srikar Bharat who had struggled in previous matches. The southpaw inclusion proved to be a positive move as he showcased his skills and made crucial contributions in the field.
Speaking of the game, the hosts faced a challenging situation after the early collapse in their innings and failed to recover. However, debutant Alick Athanaze showed promise with his batting performance. He appeared to be the most impressive among the West Indies batters, scoring 47 off 99 balls. His innings included six boundaries and one six before he was dismissed.
Ashwin stood out as the top performer with the ball for India, picking up a five-wicket haul. Jadeja also played a vital role by taking three wickets. The combined efforts of both spinners were instrumental in dismantling the West Indies batting order. Their excellent bowling display resulted in India bundling out the opposition for 150 runs.
In response, the Indian openers, Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal, took charge of the innings. They played with confidence and skill, dominating the Caribbean bowlers. The Nagpur-born remained unbeaten on 30, showcasing his experience and composure, while Yashasvi impressed on his debut with an impressive knock of 40 not-out. Together, they guided the Indian team to a strong position, finishing the day with a score of 80/0. Their partnership laid a solid foundation for India as they aim to build a significant lead in the match.