 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Kohli becomes the first Indian captain to score a double hundred away from home as India post their second-highest total (566/8) in West Indies.
The home team in reply were 31 for the loss of one wicket.
Virat Kohli's maiden double century was followed by Ravichandran Ashwin’s third ton in Tests as India piled misery on a listless West Indies bowling attack to declare at 566 for 8 on day two of the first Test at Antigua on Friday.
The West Indies in reply, lost their opener Rajendra Chandrika (16) with pacer Mohammed Shami forcing his outside edge to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. The home team were 31 for the loss of one wicket at stumps with Kraigg Brathwaite (11) in company of night-watchman Devendra Bishoo (0).
The day again belonged to India's batting superstar Kohli with his double century being his first at the First Class level with his previous highest being 197.
Kohli also became the first Indian skipper to score a double ton away from home. He beat Mohammad Azharduddin’s long-standing record of 192 against New Zealand scored in February 1990.
The Indian skipper also surpassed former Australian captain Ricky Ponting (158 in 2008) to score most runs in their debut innings as captain in the Caribbean Islands.
India had started off the day at their overnight score of 302/4, with both Kohli and Ashwin aiming to bat the hosts out of the game.
Kohli continued his march without any discomfort. First up, he crossed the 150-mark off 208 balls as the 100-partnership came up in the 96th over. Then he went past his previous Test highest score of 169 scored against Australia at the MCG in December 2014.
As he reached his historic double hundred, Kohli lowered himself to his knees and kissed the turf as retired batting great Viv Richards, after whom the stadium is named, joined in the applause from the stands.
Kohli (200 off 281 balls) played onto his stumps off the bowling of Windies pacer Shannon Gabriel immediately when play resumed after lunch.
After Kohli’s dismissal, it was Ashwin, who heaped misery on the home team. Joining hands with wicketkeeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha, Ashwin guided India past the 500-run mark.
Soon after Saha’s (40) dismissal, Ashwin went on to complete his third century in Tests.
All of Ashwin’s centuries have come against the West Indies, while Friday’s ton is his maiden one away from home.
Ashwin was dismissed on 113 runs but there was no respite for the Caribbean bowlers.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra attacked WI spinners and scored a half-century as India took complete control of the first Test off the four-match series.
From the West Indies’ perspective, it was a day to forget with their lead spinner Devendra Bishoo failing to add to his tally of three wickets from the first day.
Part-time off-spinner Kraigg Brathwaite did manage to claim three scalps, but all his wickets came when the batsmen were looking to hit out.
More importantly, the home team was looking lethargic on the field and dropped many catches at the fag end of Indian innings.