West Indies vs India, 1st Test, Day 2 preview: After Rahane rescue, onus on Pant to come good

India would have realised just how big a task awaits them in this series against West Indies, and how much the men from the Caribbean have improved as a Test outfit, after their first day in Antigua. After being put to bat, India lost their core all too quickly, with Mayank Agarwal (5), Cheteshwar Pujara (2) and Virat Kohli (9) being dismissed all too quickly. India were reduced to 25/3, and at that point, with a nervous Ajinkya Rahane partnering opener KL Rahul, things didn’t look too promising.

However, Rahane displayed everything that is good about him. It wasn’t a typical Rahane innings, in that he didn’t counterattack West Indies. Instead, he opted to dig down and grind away at the West Indies bowlers. He put on 68 with Rahul for the fourth wicket, and then followed it up with an all-important 82 with G Hanuma Vihari. In his 163-ball 81, Rahane found the fence 10 times, and ran hard for the rest.

It was a determined innings from one whose spot in the Test XI is under threat, and here, he once again rescued India from a difficult position in an away Test, like he has done numerous times before. Unfortunately for the Mumbai batsman, he couldn’t see the day through, and was bowled by Gabriel late in the final session, shortly after Vihari himself fell for a 56-ball 32. That left Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant to see out the day.

With India at 203/6 at stumps, West Indies are still in the front foot. But if Jadeja, and especially Pant, can get going, things can change drastically. Pant, who will resume the day on a 41-ball 20, will need to curb his natural instincts early on the second day, get his eye in, and then gradually start playing his shot. That’ll be the plan, and if he sticks to it, India may well end up with a solid first-innings total.

With there being some scrutiny on the 21-year-old’s ability to play according to situation, a good knock here will be timely.

Brief scores

India 203/6 in 68.5 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 81, KL Rahul 44; Kemar Roach 3/34, Shannon Gabriel 2/49) vs West Indies