Highlights: Ashwin and Saha plays rescue act as India crawls to the total of 234/5 at stumps
Jan 9, 2019 at 4:13 PM
Watch : Rahane’s Awesome reply to West Indies bowler
http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x4o3012
The selections surprises – The day 1 of the third Test match began with some unexpected inclusions in the Indian team which surprised everyone, even the experts sitting in the commentary box were amazed by the changes. There were three changes in the Indian roster with captain Virat Kohli dropping Cheteshwar Pujara in favour of Rohit Sharma. Amit Mishra made his way for Ravindra Jadeja whereas fast bowler Umesh Yadav was replaced by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Of all the three changes, no one would have expected even one change as the captain did not hint of any of the above changes. West Indies team too made a couple of changes. They handed over the Test cap to Alzarri Joseph and Leon Johnson came in for Rajendra Chandrika who was not a part of the team.
A poor star – The Indian team did not have a fruitful start as they suffered two early blows in the form of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli. Dhawan was dismissed off Gabriel whereas the debutant Joseph Alzarri was the one who started his career by dismissing Virat Kohli. Kohli;s dismissal was a delight to watch as Alzarri trapped Kohli in an awkward position where there was no way out for Kohli. Kohli had no other option other than touching the bowl and it was some extra bounce which took him by surprise and took his edge towards the slips. After his dismissal, Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul shared a partnership of 58 runs before KL Rahul was dismissed in the easiest way a batsman can get out.
Rohit fails, Rahane falls on the stroke of tea – Rohit Sharma was given a chance in place of Cheteshwar Pujara with a hope to bring about a change in batting fortunes but it didn’t work in the first innings as he could not continue his limited over form in this format. Rohit was reaching out for bowls way outside off stump and during this he edged one straight to the keeper. It was a delivery which he could have easily left alone but he sneaked into that delivery which cost him his wicket.
After his dismissal, R. Ashwin and Ajinkya Rahane tried their level best to build a partnership but Rahane was dismissed just before tea. He failed to capitalise on a well made 35 runs. He could have controlled himself from paying that shot which got him out.
The unlucky fast bowling brigade – Really the luck is not at all favouring the West Indies fast bowler as for the third consecutive Test we saw that Wes Indies fast bowlers bowled beauties but it was the loose deliveries which got them wickets. Once again Holder and Gabriel emerged as the unluckiest pair as they were bowling really a beauty. Inswing, outswing, bouncers etc they had everything to trouble the batsman but they could not convert them in wickets which reduced the importance of these deliveries. Surely both these bowlers will get their due soon if they continue to bowl like this in the international circuit.
The new ball test and stumps – West Indies team avoided new ball for an over but decided to opt for the new ball just an over after it was due. It was an impressive decision as their bowlers were troubling the Indian batsmen. Especially Wriddhiman Saha was seen struggling against the new ball as it looked like he had never faced a new ball. He even edged on and played one n the air as soon as the new ball arrived as he was not any looking comfortable against the new ball. R. Ashwin was looking more comfortable as compared to Saha as he was taking his single doubles which kept the scoreboard ticking. India ended the day with a total of 234/5 on the board.