IND VS WI Day 1 Highlights: Sai Sudharsan misses century, Yashasvi Jaiswal nears 200 at stumps

India stamped their authority on Day 1 of the Test versus West Indies, piling up 318 runs for two wickets at stumps in response to captain Shubman Gill winning his first coin toss in seven matches. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s seventh hundred underlined his growing reputation among elite Test openers, while B Sai Sudharsan served notice he may be India’s answer at No. 3 with a fluent 87.

Jaiswal’s Composed Power Show

On the slow surface at Feroz Shah Kotla, West Indies’ bowlers were tidy but lacked penetration, especially in the middle session when India ripped off 126 runs with no wicket falling. Jaiswal started cautiously, sizing up the pitch and attack. Once he found rhythm, he pounced on loose lines and deliveries with crisp drives and cuts. As he approached the 90s, the pace bowlers offered him generous boundaries, half-volley and short deliveries abused but against good length he stayed disciplined, rotating the strike rather than going for glory shots.

That century puts Jaiswal level with Graeme Smith for the most hundreds as a young opener under 24. Among all Indian batters, only Sachin Tendulkar had more tons before turning 24. Furthermore, in five of his seven Test hundreds, he has crossed 150, a tally only Don Bradman had exceeded before 24.

Sudharsan’s Knock of Promise

Sudharsan entered early after Jomel Warrican turned one past KL Rahul’s edge. He and Jaiswal stitched a partnership of 197 runs for the second wicket, dominating the West Indies spin and seam alike. Sudharsan was near flawless until a rare lapse. He played just two false shots in his 165-ball stay. The first miscue came at 58 and the second, his undoing, was against Warrican’s turning delivery that clipped the stumps via LBW after misjudging length.

But before that moment, he’d played with assurance, punishing full tosses and half-volleys, working the ball to gaps, and keeping the scoreboard ticking. His timing and back-foot punches stood out, and until his dismissal he seemed entirely at ease in a foreign role.

West Indies Fight Back- Sporadically

The visitors began with discipline. In the first hour, 12 overs conceded 29 runs and made the openers stick to good length and tight lines. But as India warmed up, control waned. The middle session became a storm of errant flights, drift, and width, allowing the Indian pair to feast.

Roston Chase and Khary Pierre saw the brunt of it, giving away loose balls that were driven for boundaries. One over from Pierre yielded five easy singles. Jayden Seales, who had suffered boundaries early in his spell, got his bearings eventually and bowled a tidy 4-0-6 stretch after tea. But it was not enough to stem the tide.

Rahul’s exit was a mini subplot. After lofting spin over the ropes off Pierre, he attempted the same against Warrican. But Warrican, with a clever air-ball that spun sharply, beat him in the air and trapped him for 38 off 54 balls.

India’s final session was methodical. Jaiswal and Gill watched out for traps, offering few chances. Gill added two aerial sweeps for fun, but mostly the pair weathered a boundary-less spell of 44 balls until a full toss finally broke the drought. Before tea’s end, Jaiswal added a flourish, tucking in 17 runs in two overs just to remind the bowlers who was boss.

What It All Means

By stumps, India sat comfortable, ahead and full of confidence. Jaiswal’s knock was a declaration of intent—a mix of power, patience, and smart shot selection. Sudharsan, though departed, left a strong impression: temperament, timing, and a knack for pressure batting.

West Indies will rue their erratic middle session, where they lost the plot and allowed India to take control. Their early discipline was commendable, but not enough against relentless batting. Test cricket often pivots on moments, and India found theirs today.

Day 1 may not have decided the match yet, but it certainly tilted the momentum. India, with two pillars strong at the top, will look to build and press their advantage tomorrow.