Prithvi Shaw makes dream debut as India cruise to 364-4 on day 1

Rajkot

Shaw (134 off 154) and Cheteshwar Pujara (86 off 130) laid the foundation for a big score with a 206-run partnership after the early loss of KL Rahul (0). Skipper Virat Kohli (72 not out off 137) and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane (41 off 92) then took the innings forward with a 105-run stand in the final session, putting India in the driver’s seat before the latter was caught behind off spinner Roston Chase. 

Kohli looked set for another hundred and was batting alongside Rishabh Pant (17 not out off 21) at close of play. Eighty nine overs were bowled with India scoring at 4.08 runs per over. The West Indies, handed a big setback even before toss with the last-minute withdrawal of captain Jason Holder, looked ordinary at best on the field. 

Barring pacer Shanon Gabriel (1/66), none of the bowlers troubled the Indian batsmen. Due credit must be given to Shaw, who batted like a seasoned campaigner in his first match for India. At 18 years and 329 days, Shaw reached the milestone off just 99 balls, adding to a host of records he holds in his blossoming career. 

In the process, Shaw also became the second youngest Indian to score a maiden Test ton after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Shaw, who was 75 not out at lunch, reached the three figures in the afternoon session with a typical punch to the cover. More than half of his runs came through boundaries, 19 in total. 

Unfortunately, Shaw fell at the stroke of tea, in what was a soft dismissal as he chipped one straight into the hands of leggie Devendra Bishoo. Pujara too looked at ease at the other end until he was caught behind off debutant Sherman Lewis, missing out on a 16th Test ton. In the morning, Shaw showed supreme confidence from ball one, on which he offered a watchful leave. 

The Mumbaikar punched the second ball he faced towards the cover boundary for a three for his first runs in international cricket. Gabriel was clocking in the higher 140kph but that did not faze Shaw. Gabriel trapped his opening partner Rahul in front with a sharp incoming delivery to give the West Indies an early breakthrough. Rahul was better off not taking the DRS as the ball was clearly crashing into the stumps. Shaw, however, continued batting with confidence and his first boundary came in the second over bowled by Keemo Paul, another back foot punch towards the point boundary. He got more aggressive in Paul’s following over, hitting him for three fours as the pacer was duly punished for bowling far too many loose deliveries. 

After Rahul’s dismissal, Shaw and Pujara gave the innings a move on and did not look in any sort of trouble. The teenage prodigy collected two fours off Bishoo in the 11th over and did the same to Chase in the 20th over. He also produced a delightful straight drive on way to reaching his half-century which came off 56 balls. The West Indians looked listless on the field as boundaries came at will for India. Their troubles had mounted even before the start of the game as Holder pulled out with an ankle injury, giving Kraigg Brathwaite a chance to lead the team.

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