India vs Windies 2018, 1st Test: India Showed Us How to Bat - Kraigg Brathwaite

India registered its biggest Test win in Rajkot, beating the Windies by an innings and 272 runs. They also took the one-nil lead in the two-match Test series. Meanwhile, the Windies captain, Kraigg Brathwaite was utterly unimpressed with his side’s performance.

India take Rajkot Test home

The Windies never applied themselves and was in no mood to spend some time in the middle. After the home team posted a mammoth score of 649 on the board, it was a must for the visitors to bat out of their skins. They needed to do something special to harbour hopes of saving the Test match which didn’t happen.

However, it was a great debut century by Prithvi Shaw which laid the foundation for a big score. He looked in ominous touch and scored 134 off 154 deliveries. Captain Virat Kohli did his routine and smashed his 24^th Test century and looked in complete control of proceedings.

Ravindra Jadeja also played a whirlwind knock and scored his maiden Test ton. Courtesy three centuries and a couple of great knocks from Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant, the home team posted a huge score of 649 on the board before Virat Kohli decided to declare the innings.

Windies were never in the match and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. It was Mohammed Shami who provided India with the first couple of breakthroughs. From there on, the spinners took the onus on themselves to do the job for India.

Ravichandran Ashwin who was returning from an injury bagged a four-wicket haul. It was a dominant bowling performance by India, as the Windies were skittled out for just 181 runs.

In the 2^nd innings, it was a little different approach shown by the Windies. They began in an attacking manner. However, wickets kept falling. Kieron Powell looked in good touch and scored a fluent half-century. Kuldeep Yadav eventually dismissed him after he had scored 82. None of the other batters could make an impact.

We didn’t apply well – Brathwaite

Eventually, they were bowled out for 196, thus handing India their biggest victory in Test cricket by an innings and 272 runs. Windies stand-in skipper, Kraigg Brathwaite was pretty disappointed with the result of the game and the manner in which his side had played. He stated the team needed to change their plans ahead of the 2^nd Test in Hyderabad.

Here is what Kraigg Brathwaite said at the post-match presentation,

“Not the best of starts, credit to India. They showed us how to bat. Quite disappointed. Didn’t get enough partnerships as a batting unit. Two or three partnerships would hold us very well. One thing we said in our meeting was to be as positive as possible. Not sure if Holder will be fit for the next game.”