Ahmedabad, Oct 4 (UNI) Ravindra Jadeja once again showed why even legends would take notice, steering India to a commanding 448/5 declared and leaving West Indies floundering at 66/5 in 27 overs, staring at a daunting 220-run deficit.
If the visitors thought they could stroll in and bat out the morning, Jadeja had other plans. It all began with his elegant century—patient, calculated, yet peppered with moments of audacious flair. Jadeja didn’t just occupy the crease; he dictated terms, punishing anything loose and rotating strike with the calm of a maestro.
Washington Sundar provided solid company, but Jadeja was the star, ensuring India could declare and set up a scenario every bowler dreams of —pressure piled high on the opposition.
And pressure is precisely what he unleashed with the ball. West Indies’ openers, John Campbell (14) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (8), had barely found their rhythm when Jadeja struck, sending the top batsman packing with a superb catch by Sai Sudarshan.
Roston Chase was bowled by Kuldeep Yadav for a single run, and Shai Hope, attempting a shot too ambitious for his own good, lobbed a simple catch to Yashasvi Jaiswal. Even Brandon King couldn’t read Jadeja’s subtle variations, edging a full delivery to KL Rahul at first slip.
Yet cricket is never so simple. Alick Athanaze (27*) and Justin Greaves (10*) offered a flicker of resistance, showing glimpses of audacious reverse sweeps and elegant pulls. Athanaze survived a vital LBW review, but the cracks were clear—the Indian spinners were in charge, and the West Indies were wobbling.
India’s fielding was the cherry on top. Nitish Reddy lunged to pluck Chanderpaul with a two-handed diving catch at square leg, while Sai Sudharsan held firm under the helmet to remove Campbell. Every run saved and every catch taken seemed to tighten the noose. Mohammed Siraj supported the spinners with his usual disciplined aggression, ensuring the visitors found no rhythm.
At lunch, West Indies were 66/5, and though Athanaze and Greaves continue to offer defiance, the day belongs to India. Jadeja, with bat, ball, and brilliance, has ensured the hosts are in control, and the visitors face a daunting climb.
Scoreboard:
West Indies 1st Innings: 162 all out (44.1 overs)
India 1st Innings: 448/5 declared (128 overs, RA Jadeja 104, Washington Sundar 9)
Day 3: West Indies 66/5 in 27 overs (A Athanaze 27*, JP Greaves 10*)
