India routed West Indies by an innings and 51 runs, take 1-0 lead in two match Test series in Kolkata on Friday. Main architect for India’s comprehensive win were Rohit Sharma, who put in a man of the match performance with 177 runs, Mohammed Shami, who took 9/188, Ravichandran Ashwin, who took 5/98 and scored 124. This is for the first time that India, in its 81-year history, have won five Test matches in a row. Earlier in the year, India whitewashed Australia 4-0. The key, though, is to mention that all five Test matches were at home.
West Indies, though, started at a brisk pace after the lunch, on Day 3, as it lost its first wicket in the form of Chris Gayle after Gayle scored at fast pace. After scoring a brisk 33 runs off 35 balls, Gayle was caught by Virat Kohli off Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling while attempting a pull shot from outside off which he should have cut it to the point.
After that West Indies did manage a decent partnership of Darren Bravo and Kieran Powell scored 68 runs for 2nd wicket. But, when Powell misread a straight delivery from Ashwin he found himself plumb in front of stumps. After that, though, it was all one-way traffic as home bowlers created havoc and West Indies lost 9 wickets for 67 runs.
Earlier in the day, India started well on the third morning with Ravichandran Ashwin hitting his second Test ton and Rohit Sharma, continuing his good form, who crossed the 150-run mark. However, West Indian bowler much better today and bundled out India before lunch at 453 as the hosts managed a lead of 219 runs.
Rohit Sharma, who smashed his first Test century in the Test cricket, was declared LBW at 177 off 301 balls. And soon after, Ashwin followed his partner in crime and was sent back to pavilion by Shillingford after scoring 124 off 210 balls.
Following the departure of Sharma and Ashwin, rest of Indians didn’t last too long.