By Devadyuti Das

Copyright india

The difference in Test rankings of India and West Indies couldn’t have been more apparent as we saw on Thursday. On Dussehra day in India the home side dominated the proceedings to fire first salvo in the first Test of the two-match series.
After Shubman Gill lost the toss yet again the Indians bowled first the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and bundled out the visitors for just 162 in 44.1 overs before tea on the opening day. There was no looking back for the hosts with Mohammed Siraj carrying on his phenomenal form for the five-match Test series in England to snap up 4/40.
The Gujarat Titans pacer came heartbreakingly close to claiming his first five-wicket haul at home but fell agonizingly short. Siraj thought he had claimed his five-wicket haul when umpire raised the finger on a leg-before appeal against Justin Greaves but the ball was found to be sliding down the leg-side when the West Indies all-rounder reviewed the decision.
However Siraj has become the leading wicket-taker in World Test Championships (WTC) matches in 2025 with 31 wickets in 7 Tests surpassing Australian pacer Mitchell Starc – who has 29 wickets so far. Siraj can become the leading wicket-taker in Tests in 2025 as well with Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani currently leading the way with 36 wickets in 9 Tests.
Siraj’s new-ball partner was equally destructive claiming 3/42 to pack up the West Indies lower-order. Bumrah was devastating with the old ball becoming the fastest bowler to claim 50 wickets in India – in 1747 balls. He also become the 3rd Indian bowler after Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and first Indian pacer to scalp 50 wickets in home Tests in WTC.
For West India all-rounder Greave was the top-scorer with 32 (48b 4×4) tried to put up a brave fight with captain Roston Chase scoring 24 off 43 balls and wicketkeeper Shai Hope chipping in with 26 off 36 balls. But Siraj and Bumrah couple with the guile of Kuldeep Yadav who claimed 2/25 on his Test return were too hot to handle for the West Indies.
KL Rahul Shubman Gill lead Indian reply
Indian batters continued their dominance on the opening day going in at stumps at 121 for 2 just 41 runs behind with eight wickets in hand. Opener KL Rahul continued his fine form for England notching up a fifty off 101 balls with six boundaries.
WATCH KL Rahul notch up a fifty on Day 1 of 1st Test vs West Indies HERE…
KL Rahul’s late drive = pure timing 🧊
Precise perfect placement priceless 👏
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— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 2 2025
Rahul put on 68 runs for the opening wicket with Yashasvi Jaiswal (36 54b 7×4) before Jayden Seales provided the breakthrough for the Windies. Jaiswal fell caught behind to Seales – throwing away a fine start. B. Sai Sudharsan came in at No. 3 position but failed to post a big score falling plumb leg-before to Windies captain Chase for 7 off 19 balls.
In form Indian skipper Gill tackled the remaining of day’s play to remain unbeaten on a docile 18 off 42 balls with one four. But with Gill and Rahul in the middle the Indians will be eyeing a massive first innings lead in Ahmedabad to put West Indies well and truly out of this contest.