After a break of one month, India is back on the field in a new World Test Championship cycle 2023-25. They have started with a two-match Test series against the West Indies. Last month, the Asian side faced fans’ wrath after losing WTC final 2023 against Australia, having lost the 2021 final against New Zealand. Meanwhile, in the ongoing game, the home team, West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first.
Playing a home game after a few years in Dominica, the wicket looked like a Day 3 or 4 surface. Any team scoring 250-300 runs at this wicket will have the upper hand. Talking about the Caribbean batting, it disappointed their fans once, not surprisingly though. They were bowled out for 150 runs on the first day. Debutant Alick Athanaze (47) was the only player to show some resistance against good Indian bowling.
For the visitors, Ravichandran Ashwin took a five-wicket haul and showed why he should have played in WTC Final 2023. On the other hand, Ravindra Jadeja took three and Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur took one each.
India finish strongly on Day One
After bowling out the Caribbeans for 150, India openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Rohit Sharma amassed unbeaten 80 runs before the stumps. The latter has been searching for big runs since the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February this year. On the other hand, Jaiswal made his international debut, with nine First Class hundreds to his name.
The left-hander scored 40 off 73 and counting while Rohit got 30 off 65 balls and counting including a six. Looking at the surface and the fragile batting of both teams, the Test match doesn’t seem to be going on the weekend. It would need some marathon batting from the Indians to take the game that deep. Also, the surface doesn’t allow the new batter to get set very easily. It will be important for the batters to get a big score as the team is looking to start building a team for the future.
This is how Twitter reacted
Raat jage match na dekhne ka ghamand hai😎
Good Morning Everyone❤️🙂#WIvIND #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/YSpYUMeGdX
— Saikat Mondal (@saikatmondal0) July 13, 2023
They got everyone out, but they couldn't get Rahkeem Cornwall out. Rahkeem 'The Dream' showed how to tackle Ravi Ashwin, wonderful innings of 19 unbeaten 👏
Just wait and see how he spins the web around India now. They won't know what hit them 🔥 #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/IDy7ksPDsE
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) July 12, 2023
Shubman Gill package for you!
He is truly enjoying the Caribbean atmosphere 🥳 🎉🕺🏻#TeamIndia #TestCricket #ViratKohli #ViratKohli𓃵 #BCCI #IndianCricketTeam #WestIndies #CricketTwitter #CWC23 #RohitSharma #AjinkyaRahane #INDvWI #WIvIND 1st testpic.twitter.com/hQZ8BlgJyq
— Katta Anilkumar (@tweets_katta) July 13, 2023
Impressive show with the ball led by @ashwinravi99 who was just too good for the WI batters 👏🏽 #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/wb3Xc4zGc4
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 12, 2023
🍽️ LUNCH – DAY 1
A unique achievement in the 1st session by Ashwin. He becomes the 1st Indian bowler to take the wickets of a father-son duo in Test cricket 😯👏💙
WI: 68/4 (28)#OneFamily #WIvINDpic.twitter.com/X7UCGUkvBA
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) July 12, 2023
Ishan Kishan should know about the stump mic 😂
— Anuj Nitin Prabhu (@APTalksCricket) July 12, 2023
1st over, Jaiswal on Strike, Ian Bishop on commentary narrated his whole life in that one over. #WivInd
— mon (@4sacinom) July 12, 2023
Bhayii ye pitch hai ya keechad 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/rn5vtfBv4p
— Neha Sharma (@imneha30) July 12, 2023
If Ishan Kishan is playing Test cricket then either India doesn’t have enough wicket-keepers in domestic cricket or the selection is pathetic! Irrespective of what he does in the rest of the match or series.
— Mohsin Kamal (@64MohsinKamal) July 12, 2023
Day 1 in Dominica ends!
A superb start by Yashasvi and Rohit – marvelous 80 overnight. Complete dominance by India on Day 1. pic.twitter.com/g1BGpWjti5
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 12, 2023
