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PHOTOS: Rohit, Ashwin hoist India on Day 2
Rohit Sharma hit a century on debut while R Ashwin was unbeaten on 92, as India rallied from the loss of early wickets on Day 2 of the first Test match against the West Indies, in Kolkata, on Thursday.
At stumps, India were 354 for 6, with Rohit unbeaten on 127 and Ashwin on 92, in reply to the West Indies' first innings total of 234.
Earlier, the packed gathering at the Eden Gardens gave Sachin Tendulkar a huge cheer as he walked in to bat, but the veteran batsman failed to make an impact as he was trapped leg before wicket by off-spinner Shane Shillingford for 10.
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Tendulkar walks out to huge cheer
Earlier in the morning, Tendulkar, playing his 199th Test before he retires after the second and final Test against the West Indies in Mumbai next week, walked out to bat with India reeling at 57-2, and both openers gone.
The West Indies were bowled out for 234 in their first innings on Day 1.
Shillingford's double lifts West Indies
Off-spinner Shane Shillingford lifted the West Indies as he claimed the wickets of both the Indian openers.
Dhawan was bowled for 23 in the third over of the day, while Vijay was stumped for 26 a few overs later, as India were reduced to 57 for two.
Tendulkar falls LBW to Shillingford
Tendulkar got off the mark with a single on the off-side, off pacer Tino Best, from the sixth delivery he faced. In the next over, he brought the crowd to their feet with cracking boundaries off Shillingford through mid-wicket.
However, the off-spinner extracted revenge a few overs later with the wicket of Tendulkar, leaving the Eden Gardens stunned.
Shillingford leaves India in a mess
Tendulkar was dismissed leg before wicket by Shillingford for 10 after he was beaten all ends up by the doosra -- a delivery that went straight on after pitching and struck him on his back leg.
In his next over, he accounted for the wicket of the in-form Virat Kohli, who was caught at short leg for three, leaving the Indians in a mess.
Tendulkar falls to controversial decision
English umpire Nigel Llong was the man who adjudged Tendulkar out leg before wicket.
As the veteran batsman walked back in disbelief, television replays indicated that the ball struck him high on the back foot and would have gone over the stumps.
Shillingford had wonderful figures of four for 53 in 17 overs to leave the hosts reeling at 120 for five in 29 overs at the lunch break.
Dhoni, Rohit steady India
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni steadied the Indian innings in the company of debutant Rohit Sharma.
India were reeling at 83 for five before the duo stitched together a 73-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Dhoni was dismissed by pacer Tino Best as he tried to drive a full delivery but got an edge and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin after a good knock of 42 from 63 balls.
Rohit's fifty lifts India
Rohit sizzled on his debut, first scoring an impressive half-century that rescued India.
The Mumbai youngster, who recently hit a double century in the seventh ODI against Australia in Bangalore, showed a lot of application to get to his 50 off 95 balls.
At tea on Day 2, Rohit was unbeaten on 61 and Ravichandran Ashwin on 38, the two having added 73 runs for the seventh wicket so far.
Rohit hits century on debut
There was no stopping Rohit as he stroked his way to a magnificent hundred which enabled India to take the vital first innings lead.
The Mumbai right-hander brought up the landmark off 194 deliveries with an edged boundary through the slips off Cottrell in the post tea session.
He became the 14th Indian to score a century on his Test debut.
Ashwin closes in on century
Ashwin also made a useful contribution with the bat that helped India fight back after losing a few quick wickets in the morning session.
The right-hander stroked a brisk 92 from 148 balls, hitting 10 fours, and was involved in an unbroken stand of 198 runs from 50.5 overs.
Interestingly, Ashwin's only Test century had come against the West Indies, when he scored 103 in Mumbai two years ago.
Rohit, Ashwin help India take lead
At stumps on the second day, India were 354 for six in 102 overs, a first innings lead of 120 runs.
Rohit was unbeaten on 127 from 228 balls, hitting 16 fours and a six, as India scored 125 runs in 34 overs in the post-tea session.
For the visitors, Shillingford was the most successful bowler, with four wickets for 130 in 41 overs, including the prized scalp of Tendulkar.