India vs West Indies 2018: 3 things we learnt from Day 2 of the first Test

India began Day 2 of the first Test against the West Indies in a strong position with the scorecard reading 364/4. Captain Virat Kohli looked in imperious form and went on to complete his 24th Test hundred. Kohli also passed 1000 runs in a calendar year for the third successive year. He was ably supported from the other end by Rishabh Pant who played an entertaining inning of 92 runs. After Pant departed, Ravindra Jadeja continued in his rich vein of form and went on to complete his maiden hundred in Test cricket. India declared at the score of 649.

In reply, West Indies got off to a disastrous start, losing their top order with just 21 runs on the board. The West Indian openers found the going tough against top-class swing bowling from Mohammed Shami. The next big thing in West Indian cricket, Shimron Hetmyer, was run out by the outstanding Ravindra Jadeja. The spin trio of Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep picked up 1 wicket each as the visitors ended the day at the score of 94/6. Let us have a look at the 3 things we learnt from today’s play.

#1 Pant could be the next Gilchrist

Rishabh Pant had a tough start to his Test career, accumulating just 48 runs from his first five innings in Test cricket. However, the pocket-sized dynamo from Delhi announced his arrival on the big stage with a smashing century in the fourth innings against England at the Oval in the final Test of England tour. Pant carried his good form from England with a stroke 92 from just 84 balls against the West Indies. His innings included eight fours and four massive sixes. The power with which Pant hits the ball is astonishing. Pant reminds fans of Adam Gilchrist with his aggressive style of batting. The legendary Australian wicket-keeper won many matches for the invincible Australian team with his explosive hitting down the order.

If Pant can improve his wicket-keeping skills, he may well be the wicketkeeper-batsman India has been looking for ever since M.S Dhoni retired.

#2 Jadeja’s resurgence continues in international cricket

Ravindra Jadeja has had a roller-coaster last two months in international cricket. He was dropped for the Lords’ Test in favour of an inexperienced Kuldeep Yadav and was made to sit out of the playing XI even when Ravichandran Ashwin wasn't matched fit. He was finally given the chance in the last Test against England at the Oval. Jadeja grabbed the opportunity with both the hands. He had a 7-wicket haul and made a vital contribution of 86 runs in the first innings. Then, he was drafted into the ODI squad for the injured Axar Patel. Jadeja picked up 7 wickets from 4 matches and was economical throughout the Asia Cup. Today as well, Jadeja showed excellent composure and focus to craft his maiden Test ton against the West Indies.

With his excellent recent performances, Jadeja has brought himself into the reckoning for the World Cup and will challenge Hardik Pandya for the all-rounder’s slot in both the Test and the ODI side.

#3 West Indies’ batting is worse than their bowling

After conceding a mammoth score of 649 runs while bowling, it was the turn of West Indies’s batsmen to show their might with the bat. But as things turned out, the batting line up came a cropper against the experienced Indian attack. A lot was expected from likes of Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell and Shai Hope, who are the most experienced batsmen in the Windies line-up but the trio lasted for a total of just 38 balls on a placid-looking Rajkot surface. Add to that, the comical run out of an in-form Shimron Hetmyer. It showed the wide gulf in quality between the No. 1 ranked Test team and the no. 8 ranked Test team.

West Indies’s selectors have stuck with these same batsmen for quite some time now and it is high time they repay the faith shown in them by the team management.