Shubman Gill called India’s opening Test of the home season “a near-perfect game” after his side sealed an innings-and-140-run victory over West Indies before tea on the third afternoon in Ahmedabad.
India needed barely six sessions with the ball. Mohammed Siraj’s 4 for 40 rolled the visitors for 162 on day one, and the spin trio – Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar – shared seven wickets the second time round to finish the job. In between, KL Rahul (100), debutant Dhruv Jurel (125) and Jadeja (104*) powered the hosts to 448 for 5 declared, a lead of 286 that proved untouchable.
“Three centurions in the game and I think we fielded really well in both the innings, so honestly don’t really have any complaints,” Gill told the host broadcaster. “I’ve lost six tosses in a row, but as long as we keep winning the matches, it doesn’t matter for us. I’m very happy with the win.”
Facts first, then the small print: India out-batted and out-bowled the Caribbean side, and did so with enough discipline to keep the contest free of late-order panic – something Gill’s predecessor fought against regularly. The new skipper now has three wins and a drawn five-Test series in England on his short captaincy résumé.
“It’s hard to pin down to one or two things that I learned, but I think over a period of two years, how we bonded as a team and how we got ourselves out from tough situations and difficult situations,” he said. “That was really pleasing for me to see. We are still a learning side and I think as long as we keep learning from our experiences that we have, I think we’re going to be on the positive side of the match.”
Jadeja collected the Player-of-the-Match trophy after backing up his unbeaten hundred with combined figures of 4 for 69. The all-rounder credited a more settled batting role – No. 6 rather than his old No. 8 or 9 – and an extended pre-season at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
“I’ve been batting at No. 9, No. 8 a few years ago, but now I’ve got my number… No. 6,” Jadeja said. “So I have time to prepare myself and I can pace my innings. I don’t need to hurry. I don’t need to rush [and play] unnecessary shots. I just, I can go out there and take my time and just pace my innings.”
Aakash Chopra, watching from commentary, felt the technical gains are obvious: Jadeja’s game against fast bowling “has improved leaps and bounds”. Whether that converts into runs abroad later this winter will be the next test, but 516 runs in England and now a home ton suggest the shift is sticking.
Ahmedabad’s red-soil surface also drew praise from the left-arm spinner. “Playing on a red soil [pitch], it’s fun because as a spinner, you get more turn and bounce,” he noted. “As a spinner, you always want that. I was enjoying and as I got to know that we are playing on a red soil…”
West Indies, meanwhile, leave with meagre positives: a sprightly 57 from vice-captain Joshua Da Silva in the follow-on and a handful of sharp catches. They were second best everywhere else and will need rapid adjustment to stay afloat in the remaining Tests.
For India, the challenge will be sustaining this level without drifting into comfort. Gill admitted the selection headache – four spinners on the roster, only three spots – is a “nice problem”. And in his words, “There would always be someone who would be out there ready to get the job done.”
Near-perfect for now; sterner assignments await.
