Given the standard of batting witnessed, it would be unfair to label Ravichandran Ashwin’s five-wicket haul on Day 1 at Windsor Park as redemption. After being excluded from the World Test Championship final last month, which was widely discussed as one of the most significant omissions in Indian cricket history, it was a difficult pill for him to swallow.
It would be unjust to compare the current batch of West Indies batsmen to the caliber of players like Steve Smith and Travis Head. Therefore, it would be unfounded to assume that having Ravichandran Ashwin at The Oval would have altered the outcome. However, Ashwin showcased his wide range of skills, proving that he can make a positive impact on any bowling attack.
Certainly, the conditions in Dominica were vastly different from those encountered in south London in early June. Ashwin and his spin partner Ravindra Jadeja felt right at home as they combined to take eight wickets on a dry surface that provided ample assistance, ultimately dismissing the hosts for a mere 150 runs in less than 65 overs.
When it was India’s turn to bat, Yashasvi Jaiswal took 16 balls to get off the mark on his Test debut, achieving it with an elegant cut shot over point. Skipper Rohit Sharma survived a close LBW appeal from the rapid Alzarri Joseph, with the umpire’s call going in his favor. Apart from these minor scares, there were few moments of concern for the Indian batsmen. Notably, a beautifully executed straight drive off a full delivery from the paceman stood out as one of the highlights.
