Vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja produced a stellar all-round performance, taking 4 for 54 as India crushed West Indies by an innings and 140 runs in the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday. The win, completed before tea on Day 3, handed India a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and marked a successful home Test captaincy debut for Shubman Gill.
Starting the day with a 286-run lead, India declared their first innings at 448/5, setting up a commanding position. The West Indies crumbled early, slipping to 46/5 in their second innings. Although Alick Athanaze (38) and Justin Greaves (25) put up brief resistance through a 46-run partnership, the visitors folded for 146 in 45.1 overs, sealing a dominant Indian victory.
The West Indies’ batting, which lasted just 89.2 overs across both innings, underscored their prolonged struggles in red-ball cricket. Their bowlers also failed to trouble India’s top order, leaving them with much to reflect upon ahead of the second Test in New Delhi, starting October 10.
Jadeja narrowly missed out on a five-wicket haul but capped a memorable match with an unbeaten 104 in the first innings. Dhruv Jurel’s maiden century (125) and KL Rahul’s composed 100 had earlier powered India to a massive total, setting up the platform for a comprehensive win — a significant turnaround following last year’s 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand.
Following the declaration, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj unleashed a fiery new-ball spell. Siraj dismissed Tagenarine Chanderpaul with a short delivery after beating him with pace and bounce, while Bumrah maintained relentless pressure at the other end.
Post-lunch, Washington Sundar and Bumrah continued from both ends as the Greaves–Athanaze stand showed flashes of resistance. Athanaze played with confidence against spin, reading Jadeja’s variations well and showing sharp judgment of length.
There was brief drama when Washington trapped Athanaze lbw, only for the batter to overturn the on-field call upon review, with replays showing a thick inside edge. Soon after, Athanaze passed a concussion test after being struck on the helmet by a sharp Bumrah bouncer.
His fight ended at 38 when Washington Sundar extracted sharp turn, forcing a leading edge for a return catch. Siraj then removed Greaves for 25 with a yorker that swung late, while Jomel Warrican’s attempt to counterattack ended in a tame dismissal, highlighting the visitors’ collapse.
Tailenders Johann Layne and Khary Pierre added some late resistance with five boundaries between them, but Jadeja dismissed Layne at deep mid-off, and Jayden Seales offered a simple return catch to Kuldeep Yadav, wrapping up the match inside three days.
Brief Scores:
West Indies: 162 & 146 in 45.1 overs (Alick Athanaze 38, Justin Greaves 25; Ravindra Jadeja 4-54, Mohammed Siraj 3-31)
India: 448/5 declared in 128 overs (Dhruv Jurel 125, Ravindra Jadeja 104*, KL Rahul 100; Roston Chase 2-90, Jayden Seales 1-53)
Result: India won by an innings and 140 runs
