India vs West Indies: Ajinkya Rahane shines but middle-order debacle leaves India in a fix on Day 1

Indian vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane scored a fighting 81, however the Indian middle-order troubles overshadowed the innings on day 1 of the first Test.
Ajinkya Rahane silenced his critics with a much-needed 81 on a pacer-friendly music as wobbly India reached 203 for 6 against the West Indies on a rain-hit opening day of the World Test Championship encounter.
Only 68.5 overs of play was once feasible on the day as inclement weather led to a couple of interruptions but now not earlier than Rahane performed one of the most defining knocks of his global career which seemed to be at crossroads due to regular failures.
The 163-ball knock that was studded with 10 boundaries was once the saving grace in an in any other case disappointing day for the Indian batsmen, who struggled towards the professional new-ball pair of Kemar Roach (3/34 in 17 overs) and Shannon Gabriel (2/49 in 15 overs).
Roach with his movement off the pitch and Gabriel with his capacity to extract disconcerting soar decreased India to 25 for 3 inside first eight overs with opener Mayank Agarwal (5), No three Cheteshwar Pujara (2) and team’s best batsman Virat Kohli (9) back in the dressing room.
Rahane had a couple of useful partnerships — 68 for fourth wicket with opener KL Rahul (44 off ninety seven balls) and eighty two for fifth with Hanuma Vihari (32 off 56 balls) which put the innings quite returned on music although they don’t seem to be still out of woods.
However all three players were responsible of throwing away their wickets after getting set. Especially, Rahane who used to be determined to get his 10th Test hundred and first in greater than two years.
It was once more leap generated with the aid of Gabriel that brought about the Indian vice-captain’s downfall as he dragged the ball returned onto the stumps attempting to play a rectangular cut.
On a day when Rahane done 10,000 runs in first-class cricket alongside with 18th half-century in Tests, he gave a appropriate account of himself in the post-lunch session with some delectable drives and deft touch play, something he is familiar with.
However he regarded all circumspect at some stage in the first session, having come in the eighth over itself. Till lunch, it used to be Rahul, who was once doing the bulk of the scoring as he hung in at the different stop scoring solely 10 runs until lunch.
Once Rahul was smartly snapped down the leg-side by wicket-keeper Shai Hope off Roston Chase’s bowling at the begin of the post-lunch session, Rahane regarded to open up.
A rectangular and straight force off Shannon Gabriel and a cover power of Kemar Roach signalled his intentions. Although he ought to reflect onconsideration on himself fortunate after a mistimed lofted shot off Chase used to be dropped through Miguel Cummins, who tried latching onto the catch jogging backeards from his mid-on position.
To add insult to his injury, Rahane received a double off Cummins to complete his half-century, which would be lots of a comfort for him.
The elegant right-hander, who loves to play on the up observed it effortless to play on the rise, using the bounce. He also hit a lovely backfoot cowl drive off Chase.
Young Vihari additionally grew in self assurance observing his senior partner as he also punished the unfastened balls accumulating five boundaries.
But as it has been through the day, just when it appeared as if there would be a huge partnership with the pitch displaying symptoms of getting easier, India lost Vihari o Roach, who bowled a fiery 1/3 spell with old Dukes.
In the morning session, it was once Rahul, who held citadel after skipper Kohli was once executed in by means of soar fending a brief transport to gully and Cheteshwar Pujara defeated via motion off the pitch.
At 25 for 3, it ought to have been worse but a decided Rahul put his head down and left a lot of deliveries outdoor off-stump as Rahane also defended dourly at the different end, waiting for Roach and Gabriel’s first spell to end.
It was once only when back-up pacer Miguel Cummins came into operation that Rahul amassed three of his four boundaries — a cut and a couple of off-drives.