KL Rahul smashed his 11th Test century, staying unbeaten and calm as ever, while Shubman Gill notched a steady fifty to help India grab a 56-run lead over West Indies in the first Test. This strong morning session on day two at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has put India firmly in control.
India racked up 97 runs in the first session, losing only Gill’s wicket to reach 218 for 3 after 67 overs at lunch. Rahul, picking up from his overnight 53, got a lucky break right away. An edge off Jayden Seales’ first ball zipped between the slip and keeper, but with West Indies playing it safe with just one slip fielder, he made them pay.
Rahul turned that chance into his second home Test ton, reaching 100 off 192 balls with 12 crisp boundaries. He looked rock-solid by lunch, partnering with Dhruv Jurel, who held steady on 14 not out. After a shaky start, Rahul settled in with soft defense, sharp late cuts, and clever sweeps, boosting his home Test average close to 50 lately.
Gill faced some tough spells early, with West Indies pacers gunning for lbw as he shuffled across. But once he got going, he shone, pulling off his classic short-arm pulls and drives for his eighth Test fifty—his first half-century at home as India’s captain. He made 50 off 100 balls with five fours, but Roston Chase tricked him into a reverse sweep, snagging a catch at slip. That was West Indies’ only wicket in the session.
The bowlers found a bit of turn from the rough patches, thanks to Seales’ footmarks, and Chase along with spinner Khary Pierre tried to use the variable bounce. Yet they couldn’t keep the pressure on. As lunch neared, Rahul nudged a single past mid-wicket for his century, then celebrated by raising his bat and putting two fingers in his mouth—a sweet nod to his daughter, born back in March.
With seven wickets left and Rahul in top form, India eyes pushing the lead even further this afternoon. They could bat West Indies right out of the game in this cricket showdown.
Brief scores: West Indies 162 all out in 44.1 overs (Justin Greaves 32; Mohammed Siraj 4-40). India 218 for 3 in 67 overs (KL Rahul 100 not out, Shubman Gill 50; Roston Chase 2-37, Jayden Seales 1-35). India leads by 56 runs.
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