The first day of the India vs. West Indies Test series completely belonged to the visitors.
The Men in Blue bowled out the WI batting lineup for a measly score of 150. While India was the favorite to win the cricket match, the team’s domination was led by Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ranked the No 1 bowler in Test cricket, Ashwin has proven its worth in the squad once again. The spinner took a 5-wicket haul against the Indies, restricting the team to 150 in 64.3 overs.
As the WI opening pair started to settle, Rohit Sharma brought Ashwin to the attack. The bowler took ample advantage of the spinner-friendly conditions at Windsor Park and broke the opening partnership.
Ashwin’s rampage did not stop there, as the spinner got Kraigg Brathwaite shortly after Chanderpaul’s wicket. The conditions in the West Indies and Ashwin’s status as the best Test bowler were enough to make him the first pick for most fantasy players.
The spinner, along with Shubhman Gill and Virat Kohli, was among the most popular fantasy picks on the best cricket betting sites. While the two batsmen are yet to enter the field, Ashwin has proven why he’s the top-ranked bowler in Test cricket.
Ashwin’s 5-wicket haul was boosted by Ravindra Jadeja, who registered a tally of 3 for 26. The spin duo alone got 8 major West Indian wickets, with Siraj and Shardul taking 1 wicket each.
The only WI batsman that looked in control of the match was Alick Athanaze, who scored 47 off 99 balls before falling prey to Ashwin as well.
After the exceptional bowling performance, India decided to let Rohit Sharma open with the debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal. At the end of the first day, Jaiswal stood at 40 off 73 balls, while Rohit scored 30 off 65 balls.
India is trailing by only 70 runs with 10 wickets to spare. Depending on how well the team bats, India should be able to win the Test cricket match without batting a second time.
Seeing how West Indies cricket has been declining in the long cricket format, India is likely to register another dominant victory against them.
