Yashasvi Jaiswal plunders the West Indies in Delhi

Another test match, another dominant day for India. India continued to outplay the West Indies as the visitors struggle to find the weapons to compete with the class and pedigree of the hosts. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudarshan played with craft and composure to deliver a masterclass in first inning construction to a Windies team desperate for oxygen. When play was called on bright and sunny day at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Jaiswal stood tall at 173* with his captain for company at 318 for 2 after 90 overs.

The morning witnessed tongue and cheek fun as Shubman Gill, decked in a dapper coat, walked back to the dugout to cheers for finally winning the toss. On a dry, even surface, India’s openers got the team away with a flourish. KL Rahul (38)and Jaiswal saw off the early bounce and movement of the new ball to combine for a steady fifty run partnership. Anderson Phillip and Jayden Seales could only do so much to stem the tide. Eventually, it was Jomel Warrican, who brough some cheer to the Windies. The 33-year-old showed good presence of mind to shorten his length and spin one past an advancing Rahul to have Tevin Imlach break the stumps from behind.

Sai Sudharsan came into this test match under the pressure of an extended drought. His returns from three tests in England were merely 140 runs, including a couple of ducks. In Ahmedabad, he was dismissed for seven, and questions linger about his spot at number three. He found some respite under the Delhi Sun. Together with Jaiswal, he stitched a partnership for the second wicket that defined the day—193 runs from 306 balls. Jaiswal moved to his fifty with a burst of boundaries after lunch, dispatching Seales for three fours in an over. Sudharsan got to his half-century pulling Khary Pierre. Eventually, he fell short of a deserving century though, falling lbw to Warrican for a well-made 87 from 165 balls.

But yet another day of test match cricket belongs to a star on the rise. Jaiswal completed his seventh Test century in just his 26th match. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Garfield Sobers and Don Bradman made more hundreds before turning 24. He is approaching 2500 test runs, averaging a shade around 50. Jaiswal’s 173* came off 253 balls and featured a range of strokes — crisp cover drives, bold pulls, and assertive footwork against spin.

As flat as the Delhi pitch may appear, the narrative of the Test match has already tilted India’s way through skill, patience, and a touch of flair. West Indies must regroup, find early wickets tomorrow, and show tremendous resolve just to take this test match the full distance. Indian march towards another home victory, and a small measure of healing for that lingering pain from a series loss to New Zealand.

Yashasvi Jaiswal - Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP via Getty Images