R Ashwin steals the headlines with a 5-fer as India wrest dominance at Stumps on Day 1

Ravichandran Ashwin announced his return to the Indian Test playing XI in fine fashion, registering a 5-wicket haul that helped skittle out West Indies for 150 before India’s new opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal put on an unbeaten 80-run stand to steer India to a commanding position in Dominica.

On a surface that offered considerable turn as the opening day went on, Ravindra Jadeja too made merry, picking up 3/26 that left the hosts in a shoddy state of affairs. 

Opting to bat first with plenty of moisture on the surface, West Indies’ openers were put to the test by India’s new ball pair of Mohammad Siraj and Jaydev Unadkat, but it was Ashwin’s early introduction in the 9th over that seemed to suggest the hosts’ imminent downfall. 

Ashwin eked out an inside edge off Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s bat on his first ball that went past short leg quickly, but surely enough, in his third over, the veteran spinner got a length ball to do just enough and kiss the top of off stump to bring about India’s first wicket. 

Despite promising starts for skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (20) and Jermaine Blackwood (14), debutant Alick Athanaze waged a lone war, fighting India’s bowling attack with caution and aggression for a well-made 47 in front of a home crowd before he top-edged a pull off Ashwin and made the long walk back to the pavilion.

Rahkeem Cornwall entertained with a few boundaries right after the Tea break, but it was only a few glimpses of positivity for West Indies as they crumbled to the Indian spinners’ might, apart from losing a wicket each to Shardul Thakur (1/15) and Siraj (1/25).

Jaiswal, making his Test debut, took some time to get going and only got off the mark with a slap for four through point on the 16th ball he faced. However, as the overs went on, the young southpaw looked very positive, unfurling a range of strokes, including a beautiful reverse sweep off Jomel Warrican in the last over of day’s play. 

The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, went about his business with minimal fuss too, a trademark pull shot to get off the mark following which he played out the good balls and punished the rest, ending the day on 30*. 

With all five of West Indies’ bowlers toiling hard but for no return, the hosts could be in for a long day’s play, with neither of India’s openers looking even the slightest bit uncertain.