The Virat Kohli’s men dominated the game, to say the least. It was the second time in Test cricket that the off-spinner celebrated a double of Test hundred plus five-wicket haul.
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“If you look at it logically, that’s probably the flawless finish, which every team looks for”.
Marlon Samuels attacked the Indian bowlers in the first session on Day Four. After Umesh Yadav had removed Darren Bravo in the first over of the morning – a repeat feeble push to a wide delivery from the first innings – Mohammed Shami, in his first over of the morning, hit Samuels’ glove and offered a low chance to Wriddhiman Saha’s left. Finally, they were rewarded with a wicket when Bishoo was stumped while attempting a cross-bat shot off leg-spinner Mishra. And the batsmen as well. If that is anything to go by, then we can expect the Indian think-tank to go with the same set of bowlers that played in the first Test.
“Test cricket is about occupying the crease for ling times and we didn’t really show that here”.
Having made 113 with the bat in India’s 566 for eight declared, the offspinner tore into West Indies’ batting line-up in Antigua. The West Indies batsmen were tentative as the ball moved a lot, aided by the wind and the Indians tested the dogged patience of the hosts. Going forward we definitely need to improve, to string together better bowling partnerships, and bowl more maidens. It’s a great start for him – first game as coach and we end up winning by an innings.
“So it was good to get some rest in the evening, and the bowlers’ attitude was very good, all of them voluntarily said, yes, we will bowl, and the spinners took the responsibility”, said the skipper. He ripped through their batting order, and finished with seven wickets. Someone like Ishant maintained the pressure, the run-rate did not go beyond two in the first innings. Dowrich meanwhile got to his 2nd Test half-century off 75 balls, even as runs started flowing owing to the hardness of the new ball.
India, which is bidding to clinch third consecutive series whitewash against the Caribbean side, have now taken a one-nil lead in the four-match series. In terms of Carlos, me and other bowlers, just make sure we chip in. “I think we did that three times”. I can see that Shami is bowling very well but he is not getting wickets. A passing shower before lunch helped the home team’s cause, but, much like the batting, it was too little, too late as it was bowled out for 231, a little after tea. If we’re playing five batsmen, we wanted to deepen the order.
West Indies are in trouble in the first test after they were forced to follow on.
“That’s an area we need to address”. If you want to be the best, adaptability is one thing you have to do well.
While there will be tougher opposition to bowl to in the years to come, Ashwin will have enjoyed this effort thoroughly.
“It’s important that we still keep bowling in consistent areas”.
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Early success and excellent rhythm ensured that the oohs and aahs became more frequent, the appeals more vociferous and in turn, the batsmen more tentative.
