Carrying on from a century in the first Test in Dominia, India captain Rohit Sharma continued his domination over the West Indies with the bat in the second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, by scoring a nigh-seamless and effortless knock of 80 runs in 143 balls.
After being inserted into bat first by West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite, who cited some moisture in the surface as his reason at the toss, India openers, captain Rohit Sharma and young Yashasvi Jaiswal, looked unperturbed by the West Indies pacers on a pitch that resembled more of that in Asian than in West Indies.
The surface had some raggedness – Brathwaite’s decision to bowl further looking incorrect as they will have to face Ashwin and Jadeja in the 4th innings – but largely looked decent for batting. It was shown more good for batting by Rohit and Jaiswal who went unbeaten at Lunch and both raised their fifties, Rohit Sharma smacking Kemar Roach for a six to get to his half-century, one of the easiest ones he’s made in his Test career.
Rohit Sharma was looking set for another century, but at the score of 80, he lost some concentration, and, as has often been the case after he gets as start, failed to convert it into a three-figure, getting clean bowled by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican.
It was a good delivery from Warrican: on full length, drifting into the right-hander Rohit Sharma who lunged forward for a push. But the ball turned considerably, beating Rohit on the outside edge, but didn’t miss the off-stump. Timber was the sound Rohit heard as he looked back at the messed off-stump.
Rohit Sharma was clearly unhappy for getting out after being well-set and looking forward for a consecutive Test hundred.
Watch: Rohit Sharma loses his off-stump to Jomel Warrican
"A real beauty from Warrican!"
Rohit Sharma goes for 80! ❌ pic.twitter.com/kwYYL8iKT1
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) July 20, 2023
Virat Kohli’s 87* brings India back on upper hand on Day 1
It was a day of three phases of play in three sessions on Trinidad. In the first session, Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal continued their good form from the first Test by putting a consecutive century stand, scoring 121/0 by Lunch.
It looked like both the openers will reach centuries but the West Indies bowlers made an inspiring comeback to take 4 wickets – Rohit, Jaiswal, Gill, and Rahane – in the second session to bring the game in the balance. India slipped to 182/4 at Tea.
The third session – a wicketless one – belonged to the visitors as Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja put on an unbeaten stand of 139* (194) to end Day 1 at 288/4.
