India tighten the screws on Windies.
West Indies were almost batted out of the first Test by Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin as the hosts face an uphill task of scoring at least 367 to save an impending follow on.
Kohli scored his maiden double century while Ashwin notched up his third Test hundred and then the tail wagged vehemently as India crossed the 550-run mark.
Here are some of the highlights of the day:
Kohli turns a new leaf in his career
It took Kohli 42 Test matches to reach a milestone which every cricketer dreams of and then to utter surprise of the world, he celebrated his double ton in the most subtle way— just a raise of the arms, a prayer to the heavens and a kiss on the 22 yards. Kohli was done and dusted with his moment of glory. Maybe he had set sights on the 300-run mark, but just after lunch, a Shannon Gabriel delivery stayed low and the skipper dragged it on to his stumps to bring curtains down on his 283-ball stay at the wicket.
He also became the first Indian captain to score an overseas double century. Records keep tumbling for this man as he keeps adding glorious feathers to his enviable hat.
Ashwin’s Caribbean love continues
A handful of Indian batsmen have managed to score three Test centuries against the Windies but the world no. 1 all-rounder is now one of them. Ashwin was undeterred by what was happening at the other end and went on to showcase his batting acumen scoring at a strike rate of 44.66.
West Indies bowlers may have breathed a sigh of relief after dismissing Kohli but Ashwin proved to be a tougher nut to crack as he batted like a top-order batsman with the tail and even induced a celebratory dance from Kohli upon reaching the three-figure mark.
Tail-enders have a gala time
After a ‘bide the time’ innings from Wriddhiman Saha, it was time for the Mishra-Shami storm. India needed some quick runs to push the total beyond 500 and put West Indies into bat for some overs, and the bowlers were very successful in using the long handle to great effect. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra scored 53 off 68 balls while Mohammad Shami smashed two huge sixes to collect 17 runs off nine balls.
Shami gets going
The Indians had 16 overs to eke out a wicket or two before the close of play and all the four bowlers (Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Shami and Ashwin) used by Kohli maintained a probing line and length to make life difficult for openers Kraigg Braithwaite and Rajendra Chandrika.
While Umesh and Ishant started with two maidens each, Shami, playing international cricket after 16 months looked really sharp as he derived seam movement on a consistent basis. Chandrika’s resilience came to an end as he chased a back of a length delivery from the Bengal pacer to offer a simple catch to his state mate Saha.
The visitors have won six consecutive sessions on the trot. Now it’s up to the bowlers to take 19 wickets in the remaining three days.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "#WIvsIND")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}