West Indies hold firm on Day 2 after Kohli century

It was an attritional day’s play at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain as India posted a first-innings score of 438 before the West Indies produced a strong reply with the bat in the final session. Virat Kohli laced his first overseas Test century since 2018, while Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin posted half-centuries, taking the Men in Blue to a commanding score, but the West Indies stood firm in response, ending day two at 86 for 1 with a deficit of 352.

Virat Kohli dominated the proceedings in the morning as team India resumed their innings on 288 for four. The number four drove his way to his 29th Test century and 76th in international cricket, ending his five-year drought without a red-ball ton away from home. Kohli looked set for a big score as he carved another majestic drive off Jason Holder, but his innings was cut short on 121 after being run out for just the third time in his Test career.

Kohli stuttered while aiming to take a quick single off Jomel Warrican and fell inches short of the crease as Alzarri Joseph’s direct hit ended the 159-run stand. Ravindra Jadeja, meanwhile, showed immense patience, battling for nearly four hours for his 61 before Kemar Roach brought his innings to an end, finding a faint outside edge to dismiss the left-hander.

Ishan Kishan showed some aggression in his brief stay at the crease, taking on Jomel Warrican, but the wicket-keeper couldn’t make the most of his first meaningful knock in Test cricket as he tickled behind against Holder on 25. Ravichandran Ashwin took the visitors past 400, playing a series of cover drives and ramps through the afternoon session on his way to a half-century, but Kemar Roach and Warrican combined to wrap up the tail in quick succession, taking the final three wickets to dismiss India for 438.

In reply, the West Indies got off to a watchful start after Tea, biding their time against the new ball. Mohammed Siraj and Jaydev Unadkat beat the bat on occasion in the opening spell, but Kraig Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul held firm, denying the visitors of any opening. The Indian seamers and pacers struggled to create many clear-cut chances on a pitch showing little signs of life, with the West Indian pair bringing up the half-century stand in the 22nd over.

Ravindra Jadeja finally broke the deadlock for the Men in Blue in the 35th over, with Chanderpaul top-edging one to Ashwin at short third-man to end the partnership on the stroke of stumps, leaving the West Indies 352 behind ahead of day three.