India vs Windies 2018, 1st Test, Day 1 - Prithvi Shaw's Maiden Ton Keeps India on Front Foot

The opening day of the 1^st Test between India and Windies belonged to the hosts, as they piled on 364 runs for the loss of only four wickets. It was a sensational effort from an 18-year-old debutant, Prithvi Shaw who scored a maiden Test century and became the 15^th Indian to complete a three-digit on debut.

Cheteshwar Pujara also played a good knock and ensured India recovered from the early loss of the wicket of KL Rahul and posted a commendable total at the end of the day’s play.

After batting first, it was a poor start from the home team losing KL Rahul in the very first over off Shanon Gabriel. The ball came back sharply and thudded onto his pads. It looked dead straight but Rahul went for the review. Replays clearly showed the ball would have crashed onto the stumps. Hence, it got wasted, and India was a wicket down as early in the day.

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Prithvi Shaw played a great knock on his India debut

From there on, began the rebuilding work by young Prithvi Shaw and Cheteshwar Pujara. Prithvi, in particular, looked in ominous touch and carried on from his excellent work in the domestic circuit. He never looked in any discomfort what so ever and treated the Windies bowlers with disdain. Some of his shots in the up were special, and it oozed class.

Pujara, on the other hand, was a bit attacking in his approach than usual. He also collected some boundaries, as India kept the scoreboard racing away. Prithvi eventually reached his maiden ton in just 99 deliveries. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, and his teammates were elated.

Windies’ bowlers were in a for a hard toil

Shaw eventually got dismissed softly at the score of 134. It was a long hop from Devendra Bishoo. However, the ball turned, and Prithvi was in any position to close the face of the bat. The ball took the outside part of the bat and was taken safely by the bowler.

Later, Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli shared an excellent stand from there on and looked like going to stumps without the loss of any further wickets. Virat Kohli scored yet another half-century and looked in great touch. Roston Chase dismissed Rahane just before the end of the day’s play. Eventually, India finished on 364/4 with Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant at the crease.

Brief Scores

364/4 in 89 overs (Prithvi Shaw 134, Cheteshwar Pujara 86, Shanon Gabriel 1/66)