India Dominates West Indies, Reduces Them to 66/5 at Lunch

India is well on its way to a commanding victory against the West Indies in the first Test match held in Ahmedabad. After establishing a significant first-innings total of 448/5, the hosts declared overnight, setting a daunting target for the West Indies. As Day 3 commenced, India’s bowlers showcased their prowess, reducing the visitors to 66/5 by the time Lunch was called.

The Indian team exhibited exceptional fielding and bowling skills. A standout moment came from Nitish Kumar Reddy, who executed a brilliant catch to dismiss Tagenarine Chanderpaul, leaving him stranded on just 8 runs from 23 balls. Following this, Ravindra Jadeja took center stage, dismissing John Campbell for 14 runs off 32 balls, caught by Sai Sudharsan at short leg.

Jadeja’s effectiveness continued as he claimed another wicket, with KL Rahul taking a well-judged catch in the slips to send back Brandon King for just 5 runs off 18 balls. Kuldeep Yadav then joined the attack, displaying the skill that has earned him recognition as one of the world’s top spinners. He bowled Shivnarine Chanderpaul for just 1 run off 4 balls, as the batsman misjudged the line of the ball.

India’s catching has been remarkable throughout the session. Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed with a stunning catch at backward point, dismissing Shai Hope, who managed only 1 run from 14 balls. Hope’s attempted cut off a delivery from Jadeja resulted in a leading edge that Jaiswal caught with a perfectly-timed dive.

As the West Indies struggled, Alick Athanaze offered some resistance, scoring 27 runs from 50 balls, including three boundaries. However, the overall performance by the Indian bowlers has been dominant. Jadeja leads the charge with impressive figures of 3/30 from his 11 overs, while Yadav and Mohammed Siraj have contributed with one wicket each, with Siraj holding figures of 1/16 from seven overs.

With the West Indies currently at 66/5, they face the prospect of an innings defeat unless they can mount a significant recovery. As the match progresses, the pressure is firmly on the visiting team to respond to India’s impressive display.