The Ahmedabad Test ended not with a whimper but with clinical efficiency. In just over one session on Day 3, India dismantled West Indies for 146, securing an emphatic innings-and-140-run victory that kickstarted their march toward another World Test Championship final.
Ravindra Jadeja’s 4 for 54, Mohammed Siraj’s 3 for 31, and Kuldeep Yadav’s 2 for 23 completed a comprehensive performance that left the visitors utterly demoralized and searching for answers.
Table of Contents
The Numbers Tell a Stark Story
Match Summary
| Team | First Innings | Second Innings | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Indies | 162 all out | 146 all out | Lost by innings & 140 runs |
| India | 448/5 declared | – | Won in 3 days |
Key Performers:
- Ravindra Jadeja: 104* & 4-54
- Mohammed Siraj: 4-40 & 3-31
- Dhruv Jurel: 125
- KL Rahul: 100
- Kuldeep Yadav: 2-25 & 2-23
India declared their overnight score of 448 for 5, establishing a mammoth lead of 286 runs. Just 45.1 overs later, the Test was over—a result that seemed inevitable from the moment West Indies collapsed on Day 1.
Day 3 Morning: Early Strikes Set the Tone
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj began with probing lines, testing West Indies openers Tagenarine Chanderpaul and John Campbell. Both batsmen showed initial resilience, keeping their outside edges away from seaming deliveries. However, the partnership’s promising start lasted merely eight overs.
Early Wickets Collapse
| Dismissal | Batsman | Score | Bowler | Catch/Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Tagenarine Chanderpaul | 8 | Mohammed Siraj | c Nitish Reddy (short square leg) |
| 2nd | John Campbell | 14 | Ravindra Jadeja | c Sai Sudharsan (forward short leg) |
| 3rd | Brandon King | Low score | Ravindra Jadeja | c KL Rahul (first slip) |
Chanderpaul’s dismissal exemplified how quickly momentum shifts in Test cricket. Siraj dropped one short, and the opener’s eyes lit up. He connected well with a pull shot, but Nitish Reddy flew to his left from short square leg, pouching an excellent catch that sent West Indies reeling.
Jadeja’s Early Impact
Captain Shubman Gill recognized the favorable conditions and introduced Ravindra Jadeja as early as the seventh over—a decision that paid immediate dividends. The left-arm spinner delivered quick breakthroughs that shattered any hopes of West Indies mounting a comeback.
Campbell flicked one straight into Sai Sudharsan’s hands at forward short leg, a careless shot that betrayed his technical limitations against quality spin. Brandon King, who had driven well and appeared settled, edged one that spun away from him. KL Rahul, stationed at first slip, took a sharp, low catch to reduce West Indies to 34 for 3.
The visitors were already in freefall, their fragile batting lineup exposed once again.
Kuldeep’s Masterclass and Chase’s Dismissal
From behind the stumps, Dhruv Jurel kept reminding Kuldeep Yadav that batsmen were struggling to read him—verbal encouragement that the wrist-spinner converted into wickets. Roston Chase became the first victim of this reading difficulty.
Kuldeep’s dismissal of the West Indies captain demonstrated the art of wrist spin at its finest. He bowled two tossed-up deliveries that turned 5.6 degrees and 4.9 degrees inward, conditioning Chase to expect sharp turn. On the third delivery, Kuldeep bowled slightly quicker and pulled the length back. The turn measured just 2.1 degrees—far less than the previous deliveries. Chase, expecting greater spin, got squared up completely. His off-stump was floored, and with it, West Indies’ slim hopes evaporated.
Fielding Excellence Compounds West Indies’ Misery
India’s bowlers posed tough questions, but their fielders provided emphatic answers. Yashasvi Jaiswal grabbed a superb forward-diving catch at backward point to dismiss Shai Hope, who edged a cut against Jadeja. The athletic effort typified India’s intensity in the field—every half-chance was converted, every opportunity seized.
By lunch, West Indies limped to 66 for 5, with Alick Athanaze and Justin Greaves the only batsmen offering resistance.
Athanaze: A Lone Warrior
If there was a silver lining for West Indies, it came in the form of Alick Athanaze’s innings. The 25-year-old carried his team’s flag with a display that showcased why coach Daren Sammy and the management brought him back into the Test side.
Athanaze’s Technique Against Spin
Athanaze demonstrated excellent judgment against spin bowling:
- Length Recognition: Distinguished between deliveries requiring forward or backward movement
- Decisiveness: Committed fully to his shot selection without half-measures
- Counter-Attack: Two rock-solid reverse sweeps for four and a sumptuous cover drive for three
- Patience: Targeted only half-volleys well wide of the stumps
His 38 from 73 balls represented composure and competence that stood in stark contrast to his teammates’ struggles. However, India kept placing new threats before him—Bumrah hit him on the helmet, Washington Sundar tested him with away-turning deliveries, waiting for a lapse in concentration.
After 73 deliveries, that lapse came. Athanaze closed the face of his bat, baited by an off-break from Washington Sundar that pitched on middle. The bowler took a simple return catch, and with Athanaze’s dismissal went West Indies’ last hope.
The Symbolic Moment: Warrican’s Flying Bat
What followed was a moment that perfectly encapsulated West Indies’ helplessness. Jomel Warrican, attempting to impose himself on Mohammed Siraj, swung as hard as he could at a delivery. His bat flew out of his grip, landing at square leg. The ball, meanwhile, settled comfortably in Shubman Gill’s hands at mid-off.
This symbolic moment—bat flying in one direction, ball caught in another—represented West Indies’ batting throughout the Test: misdirected effort, lack of control, and inevitable failure.
Post-Lunch Capitulation
The second session witnessed complete capitulation. Siraj trapped Justin Greaves lbw with a pinpoint yorker, then dismissed Warrican two balls later with the flying-bat moment. Johan Layne threw his bat around briefly before skying one to Siraj at mid-off. Jayden Seales walked out swinging for the fences, reaching 22 off 12 balls before hitting one straight back to Kuldeep Yadav.
India’s Bowling Figures – Second Innings
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | 16 | – | 54 | 4 | 3.38 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 11 | – | 31 | 3 | 2.82 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 9.1 | – | 23 | 2 | 2.51 |
| Washington Sundar | – | – | – | 1 | – |
West Indies lost 10 wickets in two sessions on Day 1. They repeated the feat on Day 3. Only two players reached the 30s, only two faced 50 or more balls. The performance exposed fundamental flaws that five days before the second Test in Delhi cannot easily address.
Jadeja: The All-Round Maestro
Ravindra Jadeja’s performance across this Test built a compelling case for recognition as one of Test cricket’s finest all-rounders. A hundred and a four-for against West Indies provided the latest evidence in his portfolio of excellence.
At 36 years old, questions about his remaining career span are inevitable. Yet his significance to Indian cricket remains undeniable. He witnessed the beginning of India’s proud home record—beating Australia in Chennai on February 22, 2013. He was there when New Zealand broke that streak in Pune in 2024. And he was there lifting India back up in Ahmedabad.
In the first of 66 Tests India must play at home without R Ashwin, his retired partner, Jadeja delivered a poetic tribute: a century and a four-wicket haul, proving that while eras change, quality endures.
Jadeja’s Tactical Brilliance
Beyond raw statistics, Jadeja demonstrated tactical acuity that separates good bowlers from great ones. Brandon King’s dismissal exemplified this intelligence.
Jadeja observed King lunging forward, attempting to smother the turn. This worked initially—King hit a crisp cover drive for four. But Jadeja recalibrated his flight. He bowled full again, triggering King’s instinct to get on the front foot. However, this delivery was subtly different—King couldn’t reach its pitch. Having committed to the shot, he became vulnerable to turn and presented a straightforward catch to slip.
This sequence occurred within two overs—a masterclass in converting a batsman’s perceived strength into a fatal weakness.
Siraj’s Home Breakthrough
Mohammed Siraj achieved a personal milestone: taking five or more wickets in a home Test for the first time. His match figures of 7 for 71 (4-40 and 3-31) confirmed his status as India’s spearhead in the absence of senior pacers.
His control, particularly with the wobble-seam delivery and yorkers, troubled West Indies throughout. The ability to swing the ball both ways while maintaining tight lines made him virtually unplayable during his spells.
West Indies’ Systemic Issues
The comprehensive defeat exposed problems that transcend individual performances. Their wait to win a Test match in India, now in its 31st year, continues for good reasons:
Opening Woes: John Campbell, at 32, is the third-most experienced player in this XI with 23 caps but zero Test centuries. After 101 first-class matches, he has only nine hundreds. In Ahmedabad, he managed 8 and 14. Chanderpaul contributed 0 and 8. Such top-order returns doom any team, regardless of middle-order talent.
Inexperience: Missing two of their best bowlers before the tour, West Indies arrived undermanned and underprepared. They’re building their best batters while trying to compete against the world’s best home team—a recipe for heavy defeats.
Technical Deficiencies: The inability to handle quality spin, poor shot selection under pressure, and lack of partnerships reflected systemic issues rather than one-off failures.
What This Victory Means for India
This emphatic win launches India’s World Test Championship campaign perfectly. After the 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand—their first in nearly 12 years—questions swirled about the post-legend era. This comprehensive performance provided emphatic answers:
- Bowling depth remains formidable: Siraj, Bumrah, Kuldeep, and Jadeja form a devastating combination
- Emerging talent stepping up: Dhruv Jurel’s maiden century showcased India’s batting pipeline
- Leadership adapting: Despite transitional challenges, the team executed plans flawlessly
- Home fortress rebuilding: The 140-run margin sent a message that India remains dominant at home
What to Expect in Delhi
The second Test begins in five days, giving West Indies minimal time to address fundamental issues. Expect India to maintain their dominant approach, potentially experimenting with team composition given the comfortable series position.
West Indies must show significant improvement in:
- Opening partnerships: Finding ways to survive the new ball
- Spin play: Developing better techniques against quality wrist and finger spin
- Partnerships: Building innings beyond individual contributions
- Mental resilience: Avoiding the collapses that have characterized their tour
For neutral observers, the contest’s lack of competitiveness may disappoint. For India, however, this represents exactly the start they needed—emphatic, comprehensive, and sending a clear message about their intentions for the home season.
FAQs
What was the final result of India vs West Indies Day 3?
India won by an innings and 140 runs inside three days. West Indies were bowled out for 146 in their second innings, following 162 in the first, while India declared at 448/5.
Who were the star performers on Day 3?
Ravindra Jadeja (4-54), Mohammed Siraj (3-31), and Kuldeep Yadav (2-23) dismantled West Indies. Alick Athanaze top-scored for visitors with 38 in a losing cause.
What records did Ravindra Jadeja achieve?
Jadeja became the first Indian in the post-Ashwin era to score a century and take four wickets in the same Test, contributing 104* and 4-54 in a dominant all-round performance.
How long has West Indies’ winless streak in India lasted?
West Indies haven’t won a Test match in India for 31 years. Their opening partnership struggles (no 50-run stands in 12 innings) and batting collapses continue this trend.
When and where is the second Test?
The second Test begins in five days in Delhi. West Indies have minimal time to address their fundamental batting and partnership issues before facing India again.
