Soon Ashwin completed his third century against West Indies in the longer format levelling batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.
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The core of India’s run scoring was 168-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Ashwin and Kohli, who became the first Indian captain to score a double century overseas. Extremely happy to see the way Ashwin batted, whatever maybe the attack or opposition.
Carlos Brathwaite’s frustration got the better of him when he hurled the ball at Kohli following a firm straight drive back at the bowler, prompting the captain to give him a stern glare. Shami was the unbeaten batsman on 17, and he made good use of being dropped twice to strike some lusty blows.
Among the West Indies bowlers, leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo was the most successful with figures of 3/131 from 35 overs.
Left with just over an hour to negotiate, West Indies lost Rajendra Chandrika for 16, to be 31 one for one at the close – still 535 runs behind the Indians heading into a challenging day three.
Notwithstanding the difficulties for strokeplaying batsmen on this surface as well, the Indian skipper’s nearly complete dominance of the bowlers continued through the morning as he relentlessly marched his side forward with 102 runs added in the two hours’ play from the already comfortable overnight position of 302 for four.
The tactic had kept India’s top order quiet in the first session of the match, but Kohli didn’t wait for too long before taking a calculated risk, which was executed so well it didn’t look like a risk.
West Indies had to toil hard in the field right from the start of the Aday but with the second ball after lunch they finally struck as pacer Shannon Gabriel got Kohli to edge one onto his stumps.
Saha tried to break the shackles on a couple of occasions by stepping out to the spinners and trying to hit them over the top, but they resulted in just a couple of runs. Stumper Wriddhiman Saha will bat at No.6. With the ball, he has 176 wickets at an average of 25.39, making him a genuine all-rounder.
It was the first of three wickets for Brathwaite, who ended Ashwin’s vigil at 113 and then accounted for Amit Mishra for an attacking 53 which prompted the anticipated declaration. Rahane was almost dismissed cheaply, for 5 runs, as Shannon Gabriel (1-43) induced an edge that fell short of slips.
Resuming at the overnight score of 302/4, Kohli and Ashwin proceeded to strengthen India’s position with some sensible batting.
The pitch was flat and the West Indies bowling lacked depth to trouble the visitors who found it tough early on after Kohli opted to bat.
Kohli was also going great guns at the other end.
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He registered the highest score by an Indian captain when he reached the 193-run mark, going past the previous mark set by Mohammad Azharuddin, who made 192 against New Zealand at Auckland in February 1990.
