Jaiswal powers India to 318 against listless West Indies

Opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal smacked 173 not out as India moved ominously towards a massive first-innings total in the second Test against the West Indies on Friday.

The hosts ended day one on 318-2 after they elected to bat first at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium in a bid to sweep the two-match series.

The left-handed Jaiswal made the day his own as he put on a marathon 193-run second-wicket stand with Sai Sudharsan, who scored 87.

Jaiswal, who registered his fifth 150-plus score in Tests, and skipper Shubman Gill, on 20, were batting at the close of play after Sudharsan’s dismissal was the only wicket to fall in the final session.

The 23-year-old Jaiswal reached his seventh Test ton in his 26th match since he began his five-day career in the West Indies in 2023 with a 171 on debut.

He raised his bat, made a heart gesture with his hands, and blew kisses as a lively crowd applauded.

Jaiswal looked fluent as he hit pace bowler Jayden Seales for three fours in the first over after lunch to raise his fifty, and kept up the attack with regular boundaries.

Sudharsan reached his fifty with a boundary off Khary Pierre, then survived a dropped catch on 58 by Jomel Warrican at short mid-wicket off Justin Greaves.

The top-order batter has been fighting for the number-three spot in India’s competitive line-up and looked primed for his first Test ton, but Warrican trapped him lbw.

Jaiswal stood firm along with Gill as the pair put together 67 runs to tire out the demoralised opposition attack.

India started strongly with KL Rahul and Jaiswal putting on 58 runs for the first wicket.

Rahul made a rapid 38 before being stumped by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach off Warrican.

Rahul had attacked Seales for successive fours, including a rasping cover drive followed by a whip towards the mid-on fence in the first hour of play.

Jaiswal’s straight drive off pace bowler Anderson Phillip, after the first drinks break, also delighted the home fans, who are expecting another big win.

Spin was introduced in the 15th over, with Pierre bowling his left-arm orthodox on a tidy line and length.

Rahul took on Pierre in the next over and came down the track to hit the first six of the match over long-on, but another ambitious attempt in the next over had him walking back.

Strong favourites India came in unchanged from their innings victory in the opener.

The visitors, led by Roston Chase, are looking to avoid a second successive Test whitewash after losing 3-0 to Australia at home.