India vs West Indies 2nd Test: Windies’ ‘mountain man’ Rahkeem Cornwall creates unique record on Test debut
Ind vs Wi: Captain Virat Kohli’s fighting 76 and opener Mayank Agarwal’s half century helped India reach 264 for 5 on Day 1 to take a slight edge over the West Indies
West Indies won the toss and put India into bat in the second World Championship Test match at Jamaica on Friday. Speaking at the toss, Windies skipper Jason Holder announced that the ‘mountain man’ Rahkeem Cornwall will make his debut for the side, along with Jahmar Hamilton. Cornwall, who stands at 6ft 5 inch and weighs more than 140 kilos became the heaviest cricketer to play Test cricket. The bowling-allrounder surpassed former Australia captain Warwick Armstrong, who weighed 133-139 kg, to achieve the feat.
Speaking at the toss, Holder explained the reasons for the team change. “There is a bit of moisture here. So we will try to get into India’s middle order early. We have a couple of changes. We have to focus on the roles and not the results. We have to be a lot more disciplined. The last time we played here Roston Chase got a fifer,” he said.
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Shai Hope missed out because of fitness while pacer Miguel Cummins was dropped.
Meanwhile, India decided to not make any changes to the side. It is only the second time under Virat Kohli’s captaincy that the side has made no changes in two consecutive Tests. The last time it happened was in England last year at Birmingham.
Captain Virat Kohli’s fighting 76 and opener Mayank Agarwal’s half century helped India reach 264 for 5 on Day 1 to take a slight edge over the West Indies in their World Test Championships second match here. Put into bat on a tricky Sabina Park pitch, India were reduced to 46 for 2 in the opening session but Kohli and Agarwal (55) work hard to rebuild the innings with a 69-run stand for the third wicket.
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Kohli then had another 49-run partnership with first Test centurion Ajinkya Rahane (24) from 19 overs for the fourth wicket as India picked up the scoring rate in the second session which saw 85 runs being added from 29 overs.
But the two big wickets -- that of Kohli and Rahane -- in the final session put the brakes on India just when the visiting team was beginning to consolidate and push to a position of strength. Kohli faced 163 deliveries from which he hit 10 boundaries.
At the draw of stumps, Rishabh Pant and Hanuma Vihari were batting on 27 and 42 respectively, having stitched 62 runs from 17.5 overs for the unfinished sixth wicket. A lot will depend on the duo whether India can post a big total on the second day or not.
((With agency inputs))