India will resume their first innings on Day 2 of the opening Test against the West Indies at Narendra Modi Stadium, aiming to overhaul the visitors' modest total of 162 and seize control in this two-match series. At stumps on Thursday, the hosts were 121 for 2, trailing by just 41 runs after a dominant bowling display. KL Rahul, unbeaten on 53, stands poised for his first home Test century since 2016, while captain Shubman Gill (18 not out) provides steady support at the crease. Play is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. IST, with clear skies forecast and a pitch expected to favor batsmen as it dries out further.

The opening day unfolded as a tale of contrasting fortunes, with West Indies' decision to bat first backfiring spectacularly. Captain Roston Chase's call at the toss exposed vulnerabilities in a batting lineup still rebuilding under new leadership. Mohammed Siraj spearheaded a clinical Indian attack, claiming 4 for 40 to dismantle the top order early. His victims included opener John Campbell (caught behind for 8) and Evin Lewis (bowled for 13), as the pacers exploited seam movement on a lively surface. Jasprit Bumrah (3 for 42) mopped up the tail, while Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with 2 for 25, including the key wicket of Shai Hope. Justin Greaves top-scored for the tourists with 32, but collapses to 39 for 3 and later 108 for 7 underscored their struggles against India's precision.

India's response began cautiously amid intermittent rain delays but gained momentum post-lunch. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (31) and Rahul laid a solid platform before Jayden Seales struck, dismissing Jaiswal with a sharp bouncer. Sai Sudharsan (7) followed soon after, trapped lbw by Chase's off-spin, highlighting the transitional phase for a young Indian side missing stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Yet Rahul's composed knock—marked by crisp drives and deft glances—steadied the ship, reaching his half-century from 89 balls despite leg cramps. Gill, promoted to No. 3, has looked assured in defense, rotating strike effectively. With eight wickets intact, India eyes a substantial first-innings lead to pressure West Indies' fragile middle order.

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This series marks a new chapter for both teams. For India, it's the first home test sans their iconic quartet, testing Gill's captaincy in the post-Kohli era following a humbling 3-0 whitewash by New Zealand last year. The West Indies, led by Chase after Kraigg Brathwaite's omission, seek redemption from a 3-0 home loss to Australia earlier in 2025. A win here could propel India toward reclaiming their fortress status, while the visitors desperately need a statement performance. As Rahul hunts that elusive ton, all eyes will be on whether India's depth can overwhelm a resilient but under-resourced opponent.

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