India’s three-ton day leaves dull Windies on the ropes

With 327 runs in the day against a toothless West Indies bowling attack, India pushed on to 448/5, extending their lead to 286, with five first innings wickets in hand.

- Rasesh Mandani

The show of strength has placed India on course to end the streak of three straight home defeats (against New Zealand) potentially on the third day itself.

Indian batters would have loved a few more people present to celebrate a landmark-laden day. But Ahmedabadis, presumably exhausted after long Garba nights, didn’t show much enthusiasm for cricket.

In a rare instance (it last happened in 2018), three centuries were registered on the same day as KL Rahul (100), Dhurv Jurel (125) and Ravindra Jadeja (104*) feasted on the West Indies bowling.

After scoring big, they celebrated with gusto. Rahul with a childlike gesture while dedicating his hundred to his toddler, Jadeja with the signature sword show and Jurel, son of a Kargil war veteran, with a salute for the Indian Army.

The Day 2 pitch had eased up with the sun beating down on Friday. But the spinners were still in play as the pacers had roughed up certain parts of the pitch.

West Indies had two left-arm spinners in Jomel Warrican and Khary Pierre to exploit just that. But neither was able to extract any bite to trouble the Indian batting.