Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel centuries keep India in control at stumps: 448/5 on Day 2, lead West Indies by 286 runs

India finished day two of the first Test against the West Indies at 448 for 5, building a strong lead of 286 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The team was helped by hundreds from KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravindra Jadeja on Friday.
India ended the day at 448 for 5. With the West Indies spinners getting good turn and bounce from the worn-out areas of the pitch, the home team will aim to wrap up the match by day three and strengthen their spot in the World Test Championship standings.
How was the century’s celebration?
Rahul (100 from 197 balls), Jurel (125 from 210 balls), and Jadeja (104 not out from 178 balls) each had their own unique style of batting in the Test and their own special ways of celebrating. Rahul dedicated his century to his baby daughter, Jurel gave a gun salute as a tribute to the Indian Army, and Jadeja did his well-known sword celebration that fans always look forward to.
What
The West Indies bowlers lacked bite and the fielders showed little energy, which allowed India to tighten their grip on the match.
India scored at a steady rate of 3.5 runs per over across 128 overs, a pace that brings back memories of old-school Test cricket. Still, they managed to find the boundary 45 times and smashed eight sixes, five of which came from Jadeja, all hit in the same area with the same shot.
KL Rahul ended a long wait:
Rahul ended his long wait for a Test hundred at home by scoring just his second century since December 2016. Jurel, playing only his sixth Test since making his debut last year, reached his first-ever hundred in the format.
Jadeja, who has been in great form lately, continued his strong run. This was his sixth Test century, and in his last six matches, he has crossed the 50-run mark seven times, including two hundreds, since the England series.
Who shared a strong partnership?
Jurel and Jadeja shared a strong 206-run partnership for the fifth wicket, building a solid stand. However, they fell just short of breaking the record for India’s highest fifth-wicket partnership against the West Indies. That record, 214 runs, was set by VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar at Eden Gardens in Kolkata back in October 2002.
The stand came to an end when Jurel, after hitting 15 fours and three sixes, got an inside edge off Khary Pierre and was caught behind. It was Pierre’s first wicket in Test cricket, taken late in the day.
On day two, India chose a classic Test match batting style, steadily building their total and putting the West Indies under serious pressure. Although the visitors stayed fairly steady with the ball, they struggled to challenge the Indian batters or shift the momentum.