India opened their home Test season with a commanding innings and 140-run victory over the West Indies, wrapping up the contest inside three days at the Narendra Modi Stadium.The win also gave a timely lift to India’s campaign in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (2025–27 cycle). The two-time finalists climbed to third place in the nine-team table, holding a 55.56 PCT after six matches. Australia and Sri Lanka currently occupy the top two positions. Leading from the front, Ravindra Jadeja delivered a standout all-round performance in what was his 50th Test at home, and notably, his first without long-time spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired last December.
Updated ICC World Test Championship standings (Screengrab)
Jadeja struck an unbeaten 104 with the bat before dismantling the visitors with four wickets in their second innings. “I was playing a (Test) match in India without Ash for the first time, so sometimes I did find myself thinking, yeah, Ash will come on and bowl, and then realising he isn’t there,” Jadeja said after the win. “But Kuldeep (Yadav) and Washy (Washington Sundar) have already played so many matches, and we can’t call them youngsters, but it was a different combination. In the future you will ask, Jaddu isn’t here, and someone else will be there. This is inevitable, but it feels good to contribute to the team.” The tone was set early when India’s pacers, led by Mohammed Siraj, reduced West Indies to 162 in the first innings. Siraj finished with four wickets, backed by disciplined spells from the rest of the attack. In response, India asserted control with the bat. KL Rahul anchored the innings with a fluent 100, Dhruv Jurel added a composed 125, and Jadeja’s unbeaten century pushed India to a strong total of 448 before declaration. The West Indies, facing a massive deficit, struggled again in their second outing. Alick Athanaze (38) and Justin Greaves (25) offered brief resistance, but Siraj’s three wickets and Jadeja’s spin burst ensured a swift finish.
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This was India’s second straight victory in the WTC cycle, following their drawn 2-2 series against England earlier this year. With the Ahmedabad win, the Shubman Gill-led side gained crucial momentum ahead of the series decider in Delhi, starting October 10.
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