West Indies Show Some Fight Before Virat Kohli Puts India Ahead On Day One

Virat Kohli, will go into Day 2 just 14 runs shy of his first hundred in an overseas Test since December 2018.

Virat Kohli reached close to a memorable hundred in his 500th International game after the West Indies put up a much needed fight to limit India to 288 for four at stumps on day one of the second Test here on Thursday. The opening duo of Rohit Sharma (80 off 143) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (57 off 74) shared a brisk 139-run stand to provide another perfect launch pad before the West Indies struck four times in the afternoon session to put brakes on India's scoring rate. Kohli (87 batting off 161) and Ravindra Jadeja (36 batting off 84) played some exquisite strokes in the final session and ensured India collected 106 runs in 33.2 overs without losing a wicket. Overall, 84 overs were bowled on the opening day. Kohli, who got off the mark with a straight drive after consuming 20 dot balls, will go into day two just 14 runs shy of his first hundred in an overseas Test since December 2018.

Majority of his six boundaries came on the off side including a picture perfect cover drive off a Kemar Roach half-volley in the 57th over.

Jadeja was equally solid and matched Kohli when it came to piercing the field through the cover region.

Kohli, who had to work extremely hard for his 76 on a slow pitch in the series opener, brought up his 30th Test fifty with a boundary off spinner Jomel Warrican in the 67th over. At the start of his innings, a relentless Roach tested Kohli with the fourth stump line but the star batter was able to see off his probing spell.

In the afternoon session, the West Indies bowled with a plan and purpose to strike four times, leaving India at 182 for four at tea.