Ravichandran Ashwin’s five-wicket haul on the first day at Windsor Park showcased his redemption after being left out of the World Test Championship final last month. It was a bitter pill to swallow for the experienced spinner, who has been one of the most talked-about omissions in the history of Indian cricket. This performance proved that Ashwin can make a positive difference to any attack, even though the West Indies batting lineup may not be as strong as other teams. The conditions in Dominica were favorable for spin bowling, and Ashwin, along with Ravindra Jadeja, took full advantage by sharing eight wickets between them. The hosts were bundled out for just 150 runs in under 65 overs.
India’s batting innings started steadily, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal taking 16 balls to get off the mark on his Test debut. Captain Rohit Sharma survived an LBW appeal early on but showed his class with a beautiful straight drive to a fast ball. The openers, Sharma and Jaiswal, built a solid partnership and took India past halfway to the West Indies’ total without losing a wicket. They ended the day with an unbeaten stand of 80 runs, with Sharma on 30 and Jaiswal on 40.
With the pitch and bowling not posing too many problems, India’s focus will be on building a big enough first innings lead to potentially bat only once in the game. Jaiswal’s audacity was on display as he reverse-swept a left-arm spinner for four, showing his confidence at such a young age. If he and Shubman Gill, who has been promoted to No.3, can deliver significant scores on the second day, it will reinforce India’s transition process in a positive light. However, tougher challenges lie ahead, and final confirmation of their progress may have to wait.
The dominance of the Indian team on the first day showed a clear gulf in class between the two sides. While the West Indies have been a decent Test team, especially at home, they struggled to match India’s performance. Ashwin, familiar with bowling early in the innings due to Indian conditions, made an impact as soon as spin was introduced. The current West Indies opener, who has similarities to his father Shivnarine Chanderpaul, struggled against Ashwin’s bowling. Ashwin challenged both edges of the bat and eventually dismissed Chanderpaul with a well-executed delivery. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite also fell to Ashwin’s tactics, trying to target the onside but failing to execute the shot due to Ashwin’s change in angle.
Most of the West Indies batsmen displayed poor shot selection, which resulted in wickets falling at regular intervals. Debutant Alick Athanaze showed promise with his talent and temperament, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to provide any resistance. The lower order particularly struggled against Ashwin and Jadeja, and their dismissals were met with little celebration, indicating the ease with which they were taken out. The dry pitch in Dominica was reminiscent of Indian conditions, making it difficult for the West Indies to bounce back in the contest. Their below-par batting display has left them with a mountain to climb on Day 2.
