At the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Indian Test cricket team has emphatically reclaimed its home dominance, dispatching the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs in the first Test of the two-match series. The contest, which concluded half an hour before tea on October 5, 2025, showcased a resurgent Indian side under new leadership and without the familiar faces of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin for the first time in 15 years.
The match opened dramatically with India putting up a formidable total of 448-5 in their first innings. The declaration came overnight on October 4, 2025, giving the hosts a hefty lead of 286 runs after bowling out West Indies for a mere 162 on the opening day. The Indian batting lineup sparkled, with three centurions making their mark: Lokesh Rahul registered a crisp 100, Dhruv Jurel celebrated his maiden Test hundred with an unbeaten 125, and the irrepressible Ravindra Jadeja added an unbeaten 104 to the tally.
Jadeja’s performance, however, was far from limited to his heroics with the bat. He led the Indian bowling attack with characteristic flair, collecting 4 wickets for 54 runs in the match and putting the West Indies under relentless pressure. Alongside Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with crucial wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah’s sharp spells kept the visiting openers on their toes. The pitch, already favoring the spinners by Day Three, only amplified Jadeja’s threat, with generous turn on offer from even the good areas of the surface.
The West Indies, once renowned for their ruthlessness in the 1970s and 80s, found themselves outclassed in unfamiliar conditions. Their first innings collapse set the tone, and their second effort fared little better. The opening stand in the second innings lasted just 7.2 overs before Tagenarine Chanderpaul fell for eight, caught brilliantly by Nitish Kumar Reddy at square leg after a misjudged pull shot. Siraj’s probing spell of 7-1-16-1 had already signaled trouble for the visitors.
Jadeja was introduced into the attack early and wasted no time in making an impact. He dismissed John Campbell for 14, thanks to a sharp flick to Sai Sudharsan at forward short-leg. Brandon King was next, lured into a false stroke by Jadeja’s subtle variations and caught at slip by KL Rahul for four. Kuldeep Yadav then spun his magic, setting up Roston Chase with a series of full deliveries before pegging back his off-stump with a delivery that went straight on, a classic left-arm wrist spinner’s dismissal.
Shai Hope’s attempt to cut Jadeja was thwarted by a spectacular forward-diving catch from Yashasvi Jaiswal at point, leaving West Indies tottering at 46-5. The threat of a sub-100 total loomed large, but Alick Athanaze displayed resilience, employing reverse sweeps and solid defense to push the score up. Athanaze, who coach Darren Sammy has praised as a promising player of spin, battled on for 50 deliveries before lunch, notching up 27 not out and ultimately reaching 38 before being struck on the helmet by a Bumrah bouncer and later falling caught and bowled to Washington Sundar.
Justin Greaves provided some support with an unbeaten 10 at lunch, but the writing was on the wall. Siraj returned to dismiss Jayden Seales and Warrican in a single over, while Jadeja, reintroduced after lunch, quickly accounted for Johann Layne. Kuldeep Yadav wrapped things up by taking a caught-and-bowled off Seales, sealing a comprehensive win for the hosts.
The match was not without its historical significance. For the first time in a decade and a half, India played a home Test without the stalwart trio of Kohli, Sharma, and Ashwin, all of whom retired in the previous season. Their absence was keenly felt, but the new generation—led by Shubman Gill in his first match as Test captain—rose to the occasion. The victory not only marked a triumphant start to Gill’s captaincy but also signaled India’s intent to restore its aura of invincibility at home, which had been dented by a 3-0 series loss to New Zealand the previous year.
For the West Indies, the defeat extended a painful winless streak against India in Test cricket, now stretching to 25 matches since 2002. The visitors struggled to adapt to the spinning conditions and failed to mount significant resistance against an Indian side brimming with confidence and tactical discipline. Their inability to string together partnerships or counter the Indian spinners left them with little to show for their efforts, apart from Athanaze’s gritty display and a few flashes of defiance from the lower order.
India’s decision to declare overnight at 448-5 was a calculated move, influenced by forecasts of uncertain weather on Sunday and Monday. The hosts opted not to risk giving fringe players like Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy a bat, instead choosing to exploit the freshness of the pitch and press home their advantage early on Day Three. The strategy paid dividends, as the bowlers made quick inroads and ensured the match would not be left to the vagaries of the weather.
With the second Test set to begin in New Delhi on October 10, 2025, India will look to maintain their momentum and complete a series sweep. The emphatic win in Ahmedabad has already sent a clear message to the cricketing world: this new-look Indian team is ready to forge its own legacy, blending youthful exuberance with the ruthless efficiency that once defined its greatest predecessors.
As the dust settles at the Narendra Modi Stadium, fans and pundits alike are left to ponder the next chapter in Indian cricket. With a new captain at the helm and a fresh generation eager to make their mark, the future looks bright for the hosts. For West Indies, the search for answers continues, as they regroup and prepare for the challenge that awaits in New Delhi.
