India Vs West Indies, 1st Test: KL Rahul dismissed for 44 after seeing through tough batting conditions

Antigua, Aug 22: India opener KL Rahul scored valuable 44 runs on day one of the first Test match between India and West Indies here at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Thursday (August 22).

Rahul opened the Indian innings along with his state teammate Mayank Agarwal after West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and invited Virat Kohli to bat first.

India witnessed a top-order collapse as Agarwal (5) and Chesteshwar Pujara (2) were dismissed cheaply in the fifth over of match. They were dismissed by pacer Kemar Roach as both the batsmen were caught behind by Shai Hope. Later skipper Virat Kohli was also dismissed for 9 when the scoreboard read 25.

Rahul stitched a crucial partnership with the vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane but just when it seemed the opener would convert the start into a big knock he was dismissed by Roston Chase for 44. He paid the price of following a delivery leaving his leg stump but ended up getting an edge from his gloves and the wicketkeeper, Hope, took another fine catch.

With this match the two teams are starting their campaign in the ICC World Test Championships. 120 points are up for grabs in the two-match series. The toss of the match was delayed due to rain and the moisture in the pitch prompted the host skipper to bowl first and make use of the conditions favouring pace bowling.

After winning the toss, Holder said, "We will field first. Some moisture in the wicket and we want to take advantage. We have had some solid preparations and are looking forward to this. Every series is a new series, need to do our best. We have a new guy, Shamarh Brooks, who makes his Test debut for us."

Brooks - a middle-order batsman - received his debut cap from legendary Sir Vivian Richards.

India captain Kohli said his team was looking to bat first anyway and the visitors are playing with seven batsmen and four bowlers.

"We were batting first anyway, look to put runs on the board and then attack with the ball. We know what to do in the middle, need to play consistent good cricket, no room for complacency. Mayank and KL will open in this series. Saha, Rohit, Ashwin, Kuldeep and Umesh are not playing today," said Kohli.

Playing XIs:

West Indies (Playing XI): Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Shai Hope(w), Shamarh Brooks, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Jason Holder(c), Miguel Cummins, Shannon Gabriel, Kemar Roach.

India (Playing XI): Mayank Agarwal, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.