Recovering from the humiliation received in Rajkot, West Indies improved their batting performance against the Indian bowling attack in the 2nd Test in Hyderabad. The Caribbean visitors posted 86 runs on the board after losing three top-order batters in the first session of the opening day. Shimron Hetmyer was batting on 10 and will be joined by Sunil Ambris in the post-lunch session.
West Indies skipper Jason Holder, who was back in the team after missing the previous encounter, won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Kieran Powell were expected to provide as they withstood first 10 overs patiently.
Meanwhile, India faced an injury scare as debutant Shardul Thakur had to leave the field due to a groin strain after bowling just 10 deliveries. Team physio Patrick Farhat entered the field to check upon Shardul who then left after a couple of minutes of discussion with captain Virat Kohli.
After toiling for 11 straight overs, India had the first breakthrough as R Ashwin removed Powell on 22. He broke the 32-run partnership which he piled up for the first wicket.
Powell's opening partner Brathwaite showed better application compared to the first Test as he was ready to dig in his heels and defend doggedly. However not scoring runs did put pressure as he looked clearly uncomfortable at not being able to pick Kuldeep's wrist spinners. In fact, he was facing problems with Kuldeep's incoming delivery – the stock ball for a chinaman.
One such delivery ended his 68-ball vigil with a delivery that spun sharply into Brathwaite as the batsmen played to a wrong line.
Youngsters Hope and Shimron Hetmeyer (10 batting), however, batted with grit, punishing the odd loose balls for a boundary. Both were ready to defend Ashwin off the front-foot primarily and it worked to their advantage as they added 34 runs for the third wicket.
The stand-out shots of the first session certainly were a couple of back-foot punches by Hope off Umesh Yadav's bowling. He also hit a front-foot cover drive before Umesh angled one in to get him leg before.
Brief Scores:
West Indies: 86 for 3 in 31.3 overs (Kieran Powell 22, Shai Hope 36; Ravichandran Ashwin 1/7, Kuldeep Yadav 1/21, Umesh Yadav 1/36)