India’s pace attack lit up the first hour of the opening Test of the two-match series against West Indies at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, with Mohammed Siraj leading the charge.
After opting to bat, West Indies didn’t get the start they would have wanted, losing both openers with just 20 runs on the board. The pressure only mounted as India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and his new-ball partner Mohammed Siraj bowled on the tight lines relentlessly, setting the tone upfront. The duo bowled with impeccable discipline, consistently hitting the fourth stump channel and denying the scoring opportunities.
The visitors had pinned their hopes on experienced batter Brandon King, who displayed a glimpse of the form with an eye-catching cover drive off Siraj. However, the pacer responded with a peach of a delivery to provide another blow for the West Indies. Bowling over the wicket, the right-arm pacer unleashed a sharp wobble-seam delivery outside off, which King opted to leave. The ball jagged back and castled into the middle stump, leaving West Indies reeling at 39/3 after 10 overs. Siraj followed the dismissal with his trademark ‘siuu’ celebration as the right-handed batter managed just 13 runs off 15 balls, including three fours. He later got rid of southpaw Alick Athanaze in the next over. The 31-year-old bowler now has the most wickets (30) in the calendar year among WTC Teams.
By the first 90 minutes into the session, the visitors are currently struggling at 59/4 with captain Roston Chase and arguably West Indies’ most technically sound batter, Shai Hope, looking to steady the ship. the other end. While Bumrah accounted for John Campbell’s wicket so far, Siraj has taken three wickets in his seven-over spell, including three maidens.
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Meanwhile, India made some notable changes to their playing XI as Kuldeep Yadav finally got a chance. Sai Sudharsan has retained his place at number 3, while Nitish Kumar Reddy has replaced Karun Nair at number six, who has been dropped following an underwhelming Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 in England.
India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
West Indies (Playing XI): Tagenarine Chanderpaul, John Campbell, Alick Athanaze, Brandon King, Shai Hope(w), Roston Chase(c), Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Khary Pierre, Johann Layne, Jayden Seales
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