WI needs to overcome their first innings woes against IND

Finally, the West Indies batters managed to win a session in this Test. Despite staying on the field for 128 overs, Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul were unfazed. 

Just when both of them were about to hand West Indies their first wicket-less session, Chanderpaul lost his cool. At the stroke of stumps, the left-handed opener top-edged while attempting an ugly hoick. Ravindra Jadeja ended the 71-run opening partnership. India could have finished the day with the wicket of the skipper of the last ball, but Ishan Kishan fluffed a difficult chance. 

Jadeja found the inside edge of Brathwaite's bat that ricocheted off his pads and then carried low to Kishan. He dropped a difficult chance and failed to collect and stump out the Windies skipper. 

Thanks to Virat Kohli's first away Test ton since December 2018 and fifties from Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja, India posted 438 before the Windies dismissed them. 

The hosts are 352 runs behind, which is still a far-fetched job. Considering their current situation, they are well placed to come close at least, if not take the lead. But their record against India in the first innings looks bleak. 

Dismal first innings record

The home team managed to bat well in the 40-over tricky phase on Day Two. Though they have lost Chanderpaul, who was starting to score fluently, Brathwaite is standing tall. But, there is a concern. 

In Tests since 2013, West Indies have played 12 matches against India. In those 12, only once have they scored above 250 against the opposition in the first innings. The men in maroon batters have averaged 21.4. In this period, only Bangladesh (21.3) average lower against India. Adding further, only twice they have played 100+ overs. 

They managed to draw twice out of these 12 matches, one of them because of rain. In 2016, at the same venue, only 22 overs played throughout the Test. The other one also came in the same series. Despite being all-out for 196 in the first innings, lower-order heroics helped them draw the game. In the remaining 10, they have lost nine (excluding this game). 

The first and foremost target for West Indies is 239, which would avoid the follow-on. In any case, even if the visitors bundle them out for less than 239, it is doubtful that India would enforce the follow-on. With the pitch slowing down and considering the fact that they have already bowled 40 overs, India will look to bat again. 

Skipper holds the key

Brathwaite missed out on opportunities in the first Test. In both innings, Ashwin outsmarted him. However, he seems to be at peace in this Test. He must be at his absolute best if West Indies are to make a match out of this. 

Brathwaite has a decent record in Tests at the Queen's Park Oval. In seven innings, he has scored at an average of 57.75, his best at a venue where he has batted three or more innings. Furthermore, the Windies opener has a good record in the second Test of a series. In 67 innings, he averages 38.2 and has hit seven of his 12 centuries in the second Test. 

More to his glory, in Tests since 2021, Brathwaite has 1,686 runs at an average of 42.15. More than the runs, Brathwaite has consumed a lot of deliveries. In this time, he has a balls/dismissal ratio of 105.8. Among batters who have played 25+ innings, only Usman Khawaja (127.3), Nkrumah Bonner (111.5), and Abdullah Shafique (106) have a higher ratio. Needless to say, the more he bats, the more West Indies breath. 

The problem is not Jadeja. It is against Aswhin that he has to avert the danger. In the same period, Brathwaite averages 52.4 with seven dismissals against left-arm spinners. Whereas, against the offies, he averages 23.2 with 10 dismissals. In his entire career, he has got out to Ashwin six times and none against Jadeja. 

Alongside the captain, Alick Athanaze must also show up, as he did in the first Test. Throughout his debut Test, the left-handed batter displayed the characteristics of a pro. 

Ashwin and Jadeja, a treacherous combo on Day Three

Irrespective of their prowess, batting against Ashwin and Jadeja on a slow Day Three pitch demands high skill. 

In Tests since 2021, Ashwin has picked up 38% of his wickets on Day Three. The off-spinner averages 16.1 and has picked up a wicket every 35.3 balls — his best numbers out of the five days. 

On the other hand, Jadeja has been even more deadly. The left-arm orthodox spinner has 22 wickets at an average of 14.5 and a strike rate of 36.9. Like his partner in crime, these are his best numbers across the five days. 

The Test is in favor of the visitors again, but the hosts are in a good position to save this for now. A win for the Windies is doubtful, but they can try for a draw as a consolation. Even for that to happen, they must cross many hurdles and be at their best in every session. If India smells a small opportunity, they will pounce on that.