He has added 98 runs so far for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara (37 batting, 3×4), whose subdued batting has been the reason that India could manage only 59 runs in the session in the 26 overs bowled in the morning. Kohli’s innings had four boundaries and a six.
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Rahul was the only Indian batsman to get past 50.
At stumps, India had consolidated their lead to a sizeable 162 runs despite only 232 runs being scored in the 88 overs bowled in the day as the visitors looked to grind the home team with an aim of outbatting them.
Eventually, India dismissed the West Indies for 196 in the first innings of the second Test match in Jamaica.
Seizing the welcome opportunity of finding a place in the Indian Test XI at the expense of opener Murali Vijay, Karnataka batsman KL Rahul scored his third century in whites. In hindsight, a little more proactive batting in the first session or in the one hour after lunch could have given India a better position.
The introduction of spin allowed Rahul to break the shackles as he used his feet to send the ball crashing through the off-side to move into ninties. Pujara did his thing-quietly nudging the balls around and making sure he didn’t give any chance to the West Indies bowlers.
At the stroke of tea then, Amit Mishra (1-38) wrapped up the West Indies’ innings, but not before Miguel Cummins (24 not out) and Shannon Gabriel (15) threw their bats around to add 38 runs for the last wicket. He was, however, one of West Indies’ most impressive performers on their way to winning the Under-19 World Cup in February. Kohli must be proud of Rahul right now. So I would bat first bat again.
In the morning, Rahul had inched along to the three-figure mark before stepping out to lift Chase over long-on for a six – the first of three – and celebrated by raising his bat towards the dressing room.
The only difference from the Antigua Test was perhaps that West Indies weren’t allowing easy scoring, and had tightened up.
After the new ball was taken, in the 92nd over, the West Indies came around.
But, cricket’s gods have a zany sense of humour, and Rahul fell on 158, trying to work an innocuous delivery to leg and feathering an edge to the ‘keeper.
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Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who is on a purple patch, missed out his half-century as he tried to guide the Chase’s delivery on the leg-side, only get caught by Rajendra Chandrika at forward short-leg.
