India secured a victory in the first test, defeating the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs on the third day at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After declaring on their overnight score of 448 for five with a lead of 286, India's bowlers dismantled the visitors for just 146 in their second innings. The win, wrapped up in just over one session on Saturday, gives India a 1-0 lead in the series and marks captain Shubman Gill's first test victory on home soil. Ravindra Jadeja was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 104 and a four-wicket haul in the second innings.
The West Indian collapse began early on day three. Pacer Mohammed Siraj made the initial inroads, removing Tagenarine Chanderpaul with a short delivery that was caught brilliantly by a diving Nitish Kumar Reddy at forward square leg. Following the opening spell from the seamers, spinners took control. Ravindra Jadeja trapped John Campbell at short leg and then induced an edge from Brandon King, which was taken by KL Rahul at slip. Kuldeep Yadav joined the attack to bowl captain Roston Chase, who played for the incoming delivery only for the ball to go straight and hit his off-stump, leaving the tourists at 34 for 3.
A brief period of resistance came from Alick Athanaze, 38 and Justin Greaves, 25, who added 46 runs for the sixth wicket. However, the partnership was broken when Washington Sundar took a return catch to dismiss Athanaze. Greaves fell in the next over, trapped lbw by a yorker from Siraj, who finished with three wickets to take his match tally to seven. The innings concluded shortly before the tea break when Kuldeep Yadav caught and bowled Jayden Seales, bundling the West Indies out in 45.1 overs.
West Indies captain Roston Chase attributed his team's performance to ongoing batting struggles. “Obviously we had a poor batting display. This has been something that has been plaguing us for the past two series. We’ve not been able to at least bat 80 overs, bat a day or even get at least 250 or 300 runs on the board,” Chase said. He also pointed to conditions in the Caribbean as a contributing factor to low batting averages. “The pitches in the Caribbean are not really batsman-friendly. So, guys don’t really bat for long periods and score those big scores...that’s why you see guys averaging so low.”
The result marked India's first test win at home in 12 months. For the West Indies, it was their fourth defeat in the last five tests played on Indian soil, pointing out their struggle in the subcontinent, with the skipper, earlier have spoken about the difference in the pitches. The teams will now move to Delhi for the second test, which is scheduled to begin on October 10, with the West Indies facing a challenge to regroup.
