Well, if you were wondering how India's new home season would kick off under new skipper Shubman Gill, the first morning in Ahmedabad gave us a pretty emphatic answer. It’s the dawn of a new era, and India’s seamers came out breathing fire. West Indies captain Roston Chase called correctly at the toss and bravely chose to bat on a pitch with a green tinge, but it quickly turned into a decision he might be regretting.
Key Highlights
- ✓ West Indies chose to bat first on a grassy pitch and collapsed to 46/4 in the first session.
- ✓ Mohammed Siraj was the chief destroyer, picking up an incredible 3 wickets with his wobble seam magic.
- ✓ Jasprit Bumrah claimed a key wicket after a clever DRS review involving "two sounds" on UltraEdge.
- ✓ The match marks Shubman Gill's first Test as captain at home and the first time since 2010 India played a home Test without Kohli, Rohit, or Ashwin.
- ✓ A shocking misjudgment from Brandon King saw him shouldering arms to a Siraj inswinger that crashed into his middle stump.
Siraj and Bumrah Unleash Mayhem
The pitch report from Deep Dasgupta and Daren Ganga hinted at a "spicy first session," and boy, were they right. The red-soil surface at the Narendra Modi Stadium had a healthy covering of grass and some moisture locked in from being under covers. With overcast skies looming, it was practically a written invitation for India’s world-class pace duo to have some fun.
And have fun they did. Mohammed Siraj, picking up right where he left off after his heroics at the Oval, was simply unplayable. He didn't concede a single run initially and then struck a huge blow by sending Tagenarine Chanderpaul back for an 11-ball duck. It was a faint tickle down the leg side on Chanderpaul's return to Test cricket after 21 months, and he walked without even waiting for the umpire’s decision.
Jasprit Bumrah, meanwhile, was testing his rhythm and looked every bit the genius he is. He was getting the ball to swing in and seam away, a lethal combination that kept the West Indian left-handers guessing. It felt like a false shot was coming every third ball, as the two pacers relentlessly attacked the stumps and tested both edges of the bat.
The Dismissal That Stunned Everyone
The most jaw-dropping moment of the morning, however, belonged to Siraj. He steamed in at Brandon King, who had looked decent for his 13 runs. Siraj delivered a big inswinger, similar to the previous deliveries, but King made a catastrophic error in judgment. He shouldered arms, expecting the ball to go past, only to hear the death rattle as it crashed into his middle stump. His middle stump. It was a truly baffling leave, and Siraj celebrated with his signature Ronaldo-style leap, leaving the West Indies reeling at 39 for 3.
A Captain's Call and DRS Drama
While Siraj was grabbing wickets, Jasprit Bumrah was building immense pressure from the other end. He finally got his reward, but it took a bit of convincing and some sharp work from the TV umpire. John Campbell was on the drive when the ball seemed to brush something on its way to keeper Dhruv Jurel. The appeal was loud, but umpire Richard Illingworth was unmoved.
Bumrah was convinced, telling his captain, "Two sounds. " Gill himself wasn't entirely sure, but he trusted his premier bowler and went for the review. The replay showed exactly why Gill was hesitant—Campbell's bat hit his pad at the exact moment the ball passed the bat. TV umpire Paul Reiffel took his time, meticulously analyzing the UltraEdge. Recent reports indicate that "Two spikes," he confirmed. The first spike was bat on pad, the second was ball on edge. It was a fantastic piece of officiating, and Campbell had to walk back for 8. A perfect example of technology and teamwork coming together.
A New Chapter for Indian Cricket
Let's take a step back and appreciate the significance of this match. It’s the first time since November 2010 that India has taken the field for a home Test without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or the legendary Ravichandran Ashwin. Think about that for a second. For 14 years and 65 straight home Tests, Ashwin was a permanent fixture, a constant threat who amassed an unbelievable 383 wickets at home.
His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja was one of the most lethal in history, and his absence leaves a massive void. Industry experts suggest that As former bowling coach Bharat Arun noted, Ashwin had an "uncanny knack for bowling straighter deliveries even on turning tracks. " While his shoes are impossible to fill, India's depth is on display, with Jadeja leading a spin attack that includes Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar.
This new era under Gill also signals a potential philosophical shift. He has hinted at moving away from the rank turners of the past, preferring "truer surfaces that test both batters and bowlers" and can last five days. This grassy pitch in Ahmedabad is the first sign of that intent, a surface designed to reward skill over pure spin.
Challenges for a Depleted West Indies
You have to feel for the West Indies. They are attempting to win their first Test in India in nearly 30 years, and they've arrived without their main pace weapons, Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, due to injury. Their new captain, Roston Chase, has a monumental task ahead, especially after that morale-crushing series defeat to Australia where they were bowled out for just 27.
They've handed a Test debut to Johann Layne, a 21-year-old allrounder from Barbados who comes with high praise from Ian Bishop. Bishop described him as "tall," "wiry," and "intelligent," seeing great potential in his development. But for now, the batting lineup is under immense pressure, and the early collapse has put them firmly on the back foot against a relentless Indian attack.
Conclusion
The first morning of India's home season couldn't have gone more to plan for Shubman Gill and his team. Current trends reveal that The decision by the West Indies to bat first backfired spectacularly as Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah ran riot on a helpful surface. With four wickets down before the spinners even got a look-in, India has seized complete control of this Test match from the very first hour. It's a dominant start to a new era, proving that even without some of its biggest names, India's cricketing engine is as powerful as ever at home.
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