No matter how well the batters perform, it is often said that it is the bowlers who win Test matches. In the first Test against West Indies, the Indian bowlers showcased their skills and took 20 wickets for just 280 runs. However, it was Ravichandran Ashwin who truly shone, taking 12 out of those 20 wickets.
Ashwin displayed his exceptional skills on a turning pitch, taking 7-71 in the second innings and finishing the match with outstanding figures of 12-131. The West Indies team struggled to counter India’s bowling attack, being dismissed for just 130 runs in under 51 overs, following their first innings total of 150.
The spin-friendly conditions at Windsor Park played to the advantage of India’s premier spinners, Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin’s incredible performance not only gave him the best figures by an Indian bowler overseas, but also tied him with Anil Kumble for the most 10-wicket hauls in Test matches for India. Jadeja also contributed with two wickets in the second innings, finishing the match with a total of five wickets.
The West Indies team struggled to counter the Indian spin attack in their second innings. The top order faltered, with both openers being dismissed for just seven runs each. The remaining batsmen were unable to withstand the spin onslaught, resulting in a collapse. Alick Athanaze, making his debut, showed promise with scores of 47 and 28, but the rest of the West Indies lineup struggled to make an impact.
The Indian batters also played a crucial role in their team’s triumph. Opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal displayed remarkable skill, surpassing the entire West Indies team with a splendid knock of 171 runs. He formed a formidable opening partnership of 229 runs with captain Rohit Sharma, and later extended his contribution by leading a partnership of 110 runs with Virat Kohli.
Impressed by Jaiswal’s composure under pressure, Rohit Sharma commented, “His temperament was tested but at no point did it look like he was panicking. I just had to remind him, ‘You belong here.’ My job was to just keep telling him he’s done all the hard yards and to enjoy his time in the middle.”
India’s victory extends their unbeaten streak in the Caribbean to 14 Tests and marks their seventh win against West Indies since 2006. The teams will now prepare for the second Test, scheduled to commence in Port of Spain, which also marks the 100th Test encounter between the two nations.