Siraj takes 4-40 as India dominate West Indies in first Test

TDT | Manama

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Red-hot Mohammed Siraj returned figures of 4-40 as India dismissed the West Indies for 162 and then turned the screw with the bat on day one of the first Test yesterday.

The hosts were 121-2 at stumps with KL Rahul unbeaten on 53 at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad at the start of the two-match series.

Rahul reached his 20th Test fifty and stood firm along with skipper Shubman Gill, on 18, at close of play.

West Indies pace spearhead Jayden Seales had Yashasvi Jaiswal caught behind for 36 and skipper Roston Chase trapped Sai Sudharsan lbw for seven with his off-spin.

The Indian openers started cautiously before Rahul and the left-handed Jaiswal got going with a few boundaries in a session interrupted by a brief spell of rain.

The giant stadium, which has a capacity of 132,000, was largely empty despite a national holiday on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Seales broke through for the visitors to end a 68-run opening stand as he got Jaiswal caught behind and celebrated with a leap and punch in the air.

Rahul lost another partner in Sudharsan, who fell in Chase’s first over, but stood calm with the captain to see India through to stumps.

A depleted West Indies won the toss but the Indian attack struck regular blows to bowl out the visitors in 44.1 overs in the second session.

Siraj drew first blood with the wicket of Tagenarine Chanderpaul for a duck and extended his tally of Test wickets to 27 this year, having played a key role in India’s 2-2 draw in England.