By narenchoudhary6747@gmail.com 
The second Test match between India and West Indies at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad kicked off with plenty of excitement and top-quality cricket. After the first Test ended in India’s favour, all eyes were on how the Caribbean side would respond. Day 1 of the match on October 10, 2025, turned out to be a gripping battle between India’s disciplined bowling and the West Indies’ fighting spirit with the bat.
India’s captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl first, making full use of the early morning conditions. The pitch had a tinge of grass and promised some movement for the fast bowlers.India made one change — Mukesh Kumar replaced Mohammed Siraj, while the West Indies brought in Alick Athanaze to strengthen their middle order.
India’s decision to bowl first paid off quickly. The new-ball pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Mukesh Kumar extracted good bounce and seam movement.
- Kraigg Brathwaite, the West Indies skipper, was cautious but fell for 19 runs, edging Bumrah to second slip.
- Tagenarine Chanderpaul looked solid but was trapped lbw by Mukesh Kumar for 24, leaving West Indies at 43/2.
The Indian fielding was sharp, and the slip cordon was alert as edges kept flying. By the first drinks break, the visitors were under pressure, scoring slowly at just over two runs per over.However, Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge tried to stabilize the innings. Athanaze showed positive intent, playing some crisp drives, while Hodge focused on defense. Together, they added a valuable 52-run partnership before lunch.
At the lunch break, West Indies were 95/3, with Bumrah taking two wickets and Mukesh one.
The post-lunch session saw India turn to their spin twins — Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin — and they didn’t disappoint.
The pitch started assisting the spinners slightly as the day wore on. Athanaze, after scoring a well-made 47, was caught at short leg off Jadeja. Moments later, Hodge (38) tried to sweep Ashwin and was trapped lbw.
That double blow left West Indies struggling at 148/5.
The Indian spinners bowled with great control, maintaining tight lines and forcing mistakes. Joshua Da Silva, the wicketkeeper, showed resilience and counter-attacked with a few boundaries through the off-side. He found a reliable partner in Jason Holder, and the duo added 64 runs for the sixth wicket.Holder, who has plenty of experience in Indian conditions, rotated the strike smartly. However, just when he looked set for a big score, he was caught behind off Jadeja for 32.By tea, West Indies had reached 212/6, with Da Silva batting on 44. India had control but knew one big partnership could change the momentum.
The final session belonged to Joshua Da Silva, who played one of his finest innings in Test cricket. Calm and composed, he brought up his half-century in 89 balls, showing great patience against India’s spinners.
At the other end, Gudakesh Motie gave him good support, frustrating the Indian bowlers. The pair added 48 runs for the seventh wicket, pushing the total past 250.
However, Jasprit Bumrah returned for his second spell and made an immediate impact. He bowled Motie with a brilliant yorker and then dismissed Alzarri Joseph with a sharp bouncer caught at midwicket.Da Silva tried to farm the strike but eventually fell for a fighting 73 off 128 balls, caught by KL Rahul off Ashwin.
The West Indies were bowled out for 278 runs in 85.4 overs. It was a commendable recovery after being 148/5 earlier in the day.
Bowling Summary (India)
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 18.4 | 54 | 4 |
| Mukesh Kumar | 15 | 42 | 1 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 24 | 78 | 3 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 22 | 83 | 2 |
Bumrah was clearly the standout, using reverse swing effectively with the old ball. Jadeja’s control in the middle overs ensured that the scoring rate never got out of hand.
With around 10 overs to bat before stumps, India’s openers — Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal — walked in with the task of surviving the tricky new ball phase.West Indies’ pacers Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales bowled with intent, generating good pace and bounce. Joseph even got one to nip back sharply to trap Rohit on the pads, but the review showed the ball missing leg stump.
Jaiswal, who has been in sublime form, played a couple of confident drives through the covers, reminding everyone of his century in the first Test. India ended the day at 32/0 in 9 overs, trailing by 246 runs.
Day 1 Summary
| Team | Score | Overs | Status |
| West Indies | 278 all out | 85.4 | 1st innings |
| India | 32/0 | 9 | Trail by 246 runs |
Top Performers of the Day
Bumrah once again proved why he is among the best in the world. His control with both the new and old ball was exceptional. The two late wickets he took ensured India didn’t allow West Indies to cross 300.
The West Indies keeper showed great temperament and maturity. His knock rescued the visitors from a collapse and gave them a competitive total.
Jadeja’s accuracy and ability to extract turn on a Day 1 pitch were crucial. He broke key partnerships and maintained pressure throughout.
The Hyderabad surface showed variable bounce as the day progressed. While the first session helped fast bowlers, spinners began to find purchase in the later half.
Experts predict the pitch will get slower from Day 3, making batting tougher. India’s goal on Day 2 will be to post a strong total and take control before the surface deteriorates.West Indies will look for early breakthroughs with the new ball to keep themselves in the game. The first session on Day 2 could set the tone for the rest of the match.
India are in a strong position with all ten wickets intact. Their batting lineup, featuring Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul, will look to capitalize on the solid start.If India can bat deep into Day 3, they will likely build a big lead and push West Indies on the back foot again.
For the West Indies, the key will be discipline with the ball and smart field placements. They have shown glimpses of fight, and if their bowlers can strike early, they can still make a contest out of it.
Day 1 of the India vs West Indies 2nd Test 2025 lived up to expectations. It was a day of high-quality Test cricket — swing, spin, patience, and skill on display from both sides.While India hold the upper hand, West Indies’ fightback led by Joshua Da Silva ensured the match remains open heading into Day 2. With strong batting conditions expected in the morning session, fans can look forward to another thrilling day in Hyderabad.