First day, first show: Pace makes Windies crumble

India are only 41 runs away from taking a first innings lead with eight wickets in hand

- Rasesh Mandani

West Indies batter Johann Layne was bowled by India's Jasprit Bumrah on Day 1 of the first Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

(PTI)

The toss was delayed and the events leading up to it had a chaotic feel as the West Indies captain scrambled for the team sheet before the coin would be thrown up to mark the beginning of their first series in India during a World Test Championship cycle.

Roston Chase’ side carried the same tentativeness to the crease, having taken the brave call to take first strike against Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj on a red soil Ahmedabad pitch that had some life in it, and were bowled out for 162. India’s batting response — 121/2 at the end of Day 1 — further underlined the gulf between the two teams.

The last time a West Indies team was handed out a pace friendly deck in India, it was akin to hospitality being offered. It was back in 1994 at Mohali and although Courtney Walsh, Kenny Benjamin and Cameron Cuffy were not of the same vintage as their pacers of the 80s, they did defeat India by 243 runs. Incidentally, it was also the last time India lost a home Test to the West Indies.