India v Windies, 1st Test, day one as it happened: Kohli’s fifty takes hosts to 364/4 after Shaw ton

STUMPS: India 364/4 after 89 overs

The day that started with a wicket in the very first over, turns out to be near-perfect otherwise for India, thanks to Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara & Virat Kohli.

‘Was nervous initially but once I got in that I felt comfortable. Told myself to play like how I do for Mumbai and India A. Every run I score, I score for my dad’: Prithvi Shaw

Last over: SIX! First six of the match comes in the last over of the day and who else but Rishabh Pant. Bouncer, gets into position and pulls it over fine leg, all the way. Pure instinct.

India 354/4 after 88 overs (Kohli 71, Pant 8)

A lovely over by Gabriel to Kohli — one of the rare instances today that it’s looked like an event contest with bat and ball. Gets a couple of deliveries to move in late, one left alone by Kohli on length while the other hits him on the back leg and his towel flies off. Good pace again.

Chase continues from the other end finishes his over just in time to have one more over for the day.

India 349/4 after 86 overs (Kohli 68, Pant 6) - SECOND NEW BALL TAKEN

Gabriel comes into the attack and that’s the sign that the 2nd new ball is taken. Pant gets his first boundary with a pull shot for four. Interestingly, Chase continues with the new ball from the other end and the first ball is a full toss, wide and goes all the way to fine leg for four. Not quite the correct usage of the new ball.

India 337/3 after 84 overs (Kohli 66, Pant 0) - Rahane out!

OUT! Lapse of concentration for Ajinkya Rahane. Caught behind off Roston Chase late in the day. And uses up the review as well, strangely enough. Both the reviews today, arguably, due to insecurity of the batsmen. Reviewing in desperate hope more than anything else. Sad.

Birthday boy Pant walks out to the middle.

India 335/3 after 82 overs (Kohli 64, Rahane 41)

100-run partnership comes up between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the 81st over. Brathwaite and Chase continue to bowl, the new ball is not taken yet. The stand-in captain worried about the over-rate perhaps?

For India, the scoreboard keeps ticking without too much risk. Kohli with another boundary, turning one down the corner off Brathwaite.

India 325/3 after 80 overs (Kohli 56, Rahane 39)

Is Kohli shifting gears? After getting to his 50, plays that signature bottom-hand off drive off Chase for another boundary. Captain Brathwaite comes on to roll his arm over, possibly just for the one over as the new ball becomes due. End, by the way, of a long spell for Bishoo.

Chase to bowl the 80th and concedes another boundary, this time to Rahane by bowling short.

DRINKS : India 313/3 after 77 overs (Kohli 51, Rahane 33)

FIFTY for Virat Kohli! And he just takes his guard again and continues batting. 20th Test half century for the Indian captain. A cut shot that looked like it was four but the fielder, much to his own surprise, had pulled it back without touching the rope. Replays show that was a good effort. Chase and Bishoo continue to bowl in tandem as the new ball becomes due in three overs.

Meanwhile with 50 minutes to go (including 30 extra minutes), 13 overs still remain in the day.

India 302/3 after 73 overs (Kohli 45, Rahane 27)

300 comes up for India after another misfield by Windies. Scoreboard ticking along now. Kohli, who’s looked in control so far, played perhaps his first false shot by uppishly flicking Chase through midwicket. Safe, though.

DATA CHECK: Read more here.

India 294/3 after 71 overs (Kohli 37, Rahane 27)

Rahane getting a move on? Couple of boundaries in the last couple of overs but one of them was a streaky edge. Chase comes back into the attack, induces the outside edge from Rahane who plays a cut shot to a delivery that is a bit too close to him. Off Bisho though, he plays a confident-looking cut through extra cover. Bishoo also finds Rahane’s outside edge but played with soft hands.

India 282/3 after 69 overs (Kohli 36, Rahane 16)

Rahane’s watchful start makes you wonder if he’s playing with a hint of fear of failure. The 50 partnership comes up between the captain and vice captain.

India 275/3 after 66 overs (Kohli 30, Rahane 15)

Rahane is starting to middle the ball more now, but the radar is off when it comes to placement. Bishoo continues unchanged from one end, his last 10 overs have resulted in 26 runs. Paul returns to the attack from the other as the pacers get rotated. Both batsmen continue to remain watchful.

India 270/3 after 63 overs (Kohli 29, Rahane 13)

FOUR! After a watchful start, Ajinkya Rahane scores his first boundary of the innings off the 31st ball he faced. A lovely straight drive off Gabriel.

India 265/3 after 61 overs (Kohli 28, Rahane 9)

Kohli misses out on a full toss from Bishoo in that over. Just as we praising the spinner...

Will the birthday boy get to bat today?

India 261/3 after 60 overs (Kohli 25, Rahane 8)

Bishoo and Gabriel bowling in tandem now, the latter continues to rush batsmen with his pace, especially Rahane. Kudos to him for keeping the pace up through the day, in this October heat in Rajkot. He has now bowled 14 overs for figures of 1/43.

Bishoo, at the other end, has cut down on the boundary balls. Didn’t have any rhythm earlier today, now bowling a tight line and length.

India 257/3 after 57 overs (Kohli 20, Rahane 5)

250 comes up for India in the 56th over with a misfield at mid-off gifting Kohli another boundary. The Indian captain starting to get into his groove. Rahane, meanwhile, is off to a watchful start. Has been having trouble in home conditions, Rahane. Would look to right that starting today.

Gabriel comes back to replace Lewis.

India 242/3 after 54 overs (Kohli 12, Rahane 2)

Just like they did pre-lunch, Windies need to make sure they don’t offer too many scoring opportunities for the Indian batsmen. Drying up easy runs is perhaps the best way to take wickets on this batting beauty. In that sense, couple of good overs from Bishoo and Lewis. Operating in a good channel.

India 237/3 after 52 overs (Kohli 9, Rahane 0)

SHOT! We are back for the final session and Virat Kohli starts off proceedings with a lovely straight drive for FOUR off Lewis.

TEA: India 232/3 after 51 overs (Kohli 4, Rahane 0)

The captain and vice-captain are in the middle right now. That session, however, belonged to Prithvi Shaw who reached a memorable debut century.

Here’s a look at some of the reactions on Twitter to that innings.

OUT! Prithvi Shaw walks off in disappointment. His stroke-filled innings comes to an end on 134 as Bishoo takes a return catch. A soft dismissal and it seemed like it was coming, after a few loose shots from the Mumbai youngster in the past few overs. India 232/3

India 231/2 after 50 overs (Prithvi 134, Kohli 3)

Just a hint of looseness creeping into Shaw’s game in the past few overs. Chase comes back to the attack and Shaw slices over cover for four, but it was not timed at all. Then misreads one that turns sharply, getting an inside edge that goes past the keeper for a couple.

India 218/2 after 47 overs (Prithvi 125, Kohli 0)

A rare loose shot fro Shaw as Bishoo comes back into the attack. Plays a cut, but it’s too close to him and the edge carrie wide of first slip. Good spell this for Windies. Kohli still not off the mark.

India 212/2 after 44 overs (Prithvi 119, Kohli 0)

Gabriel is back into the attack and has half an appeal for a LBW against Kohli off the first ball. Inside edge though.

Earlier, Virat Kohli walked out to bat and congratulated Shaw first up. The captain was all smiles as he patted Shaw on the back for a job well begun.

Pujara walks back to loud cheers from the sparse crowd as Virat Kohli comes out to bat.

India 209/2 after 43 overs (Prithvi 116, Kohli 0) - PUJARA OUT!

Something to cheer for the West Indies players. Pujara falls 14 short of his ton, Sherman Lewis gets his first Test wicket. Good little spell for Test debutants. It was in a good channel, Pujara, in the words of Gavaskar, “just hung his bat out to try” and the edge is taken by the keeper. He’ll be disappointed to miss out on a ton.

India 208/1 after 42 overs (Prithvi 115, Pujara 86)

200 up for India with a cut through third man for Shaw. The 200 partnership comes up as well in the next over, once again with a cut shot by Shaw. First off Lewis, then off Bishoo.

India 196/1 after 40 overs (Prithvi 104, Pujara 85)

In his 13th over Bishoo, finally, bowls a maiden. No freebie in that over, keeps a tight line to Pujara.

India 194/1 after 38 overs (Prithvi 104, Pujara 84)

It’s a good sign that the most patient phase of Prithvi Shaw’s innings has come immediately after his century. Shows that the youngster is ready for the grind. Bishoo completes another over and it’s time for a change at the other end after Paul struggled to finish his over. Lewis comes back on.

BREAK IN PLAY: Keemo Paul seems to be suffering from exhaustion in Rajkot’s heat. He’s getting treatment, fluids being provided. It’s around 39 degrees celsius at the moment. India 193/1 after 36.5 overs.

India 189/1 after 36 overs (Prithvi 103, Pujara 80)

Another Bishoo over, another short ball, another boundary for India. And not for the first time, Pujara plays the late cut to perfection. West Indies really need to protect the third man boundary if Bishoo continues to bowl there.

India 182/1 after 34 overs (Prithvi 102, Pujara 74)

Pujara moves on to 74 with a boundary off the last ball of Bishoo’s over.

Meanwhile, Twitter is already abuzz with reactions for Shaw’s 100.

CENTURY! THERE IT IS! Of the 99th ball he faces in Test cricket, on his first day as a Test cricketer for India, Prithvi Shaw gets to a ton. What a day for the youngster!

India 172/1 after 31 overs (Prithvi 99, Pujara 67)

Oh, almost a mix-up in that over! Shaw wants to return for a second run to complete his ton but sends Pujara back who dives and makes it back, just about. They can all laugh about it now, but wouldn’t have been as funny if he had gotten run out on 99. But good awareness from Shaw to yell out a loud NO.

India 171/1 after 30 overs (Prithvi 98, Pujara 67)

With a lovely square drive for four off Gabriel, Shaw moves on to 97. Takes a single and keeps the strike for next over.

India 166/1 after 30 overs (Prithvi 93, Pujara 67)

Praise be! Semblance of balance restored in the last couple of overs as it begins to like Test cricket. Just two runs from Gabriel’s over while Bishoo concedes just one.

DID YOU KNOW: Prithvi Shaw is the first Mumbai-born cricketer to play for India since Ramesh Powar in 2007. (Rohit and Rahane are not Mumbai-born cricketers)

India 163/1 after 28 overs (Prithvi 91, Pujara 66)

Pujara and Shaw have started in 5th gear after lunch. Even Gabriel, the one bowler who looked good in the first session, comes for some treatment from Pujara. Two boundaries in his over. And Bishoo continues to offer Shaw dollies at the other end, a short ball put away in a 10-run over. One ball bounced and beat everyone for four byes in that over though. There’s just not been enough of those good deliveries.

India 142/1 after 26 overs (Prithvi 84, Pujara 56)

The players are back on and Prithvi starts with two fours – one a slog sweep and the other a lofted shot on the leg-side. No respect for the spinner. None at all. He is motoring towards a century on debut. 9 runs from the over.

LUNCH - India 133/1

A debut Test ton seems imminent for Shaw. Join us on the other side of this break to see if he gets there.

LUNCH: India 133/1

That session was all about Prithvi Shaw, even as Pujara is showing signs of playing one of this typical lengthy innings. But, truth be told, the West Indies bowling attack has been pedestrian. All five bowlers used and no one bar Shannon Gabriel looked remotely threatening.

LUNCH: After 25 overs India 133/1

In the last five overs, India have scored 41 runs. Shaw with another boundary in that over, a late cut through the slip cordon off Sherman Lewis’ over. Yes, a fast bowler being late cut. Modern day cricketer, for Shaw.

Meanwhile, is this a first in Test cricket? Cheteshwar Pujara has a water bottle in his pant pocket. Staying hydrated, while not affecting the over-rate. Well done, Pujara.

After 23 overs India 125/1

FIFTY FOR CHETESHWAR PUJARA! Just taken 67 balls, gets there with a straight drive for 4 in the 22nd over.

India 92/1 after 19 overs - Shaw 52*, Pujara 39*

Gabriel comes back into the attack as there is nothing in the pitch for spinners this early.

FIFTY FOR PRITHVI SHAW! Youngest Indian cricketer to score a Test match half century on debut. With a single to long on, Shaw reaches the milestone. Lovely innings. Needed just 56 balls to get there.

India 82/1 after 17 overs

Spin from both ends this early for Windies on a pitch with a green-tinge. Times, they are a changin’. Roston Chase comes into the attack to bowl his gentle off-breaks, Bishoo continues from the other end. Pujara puts the latter away for a four.

India 74/1 after 15 overs

All too easy at the moment. Six runs from that Bishoo over, as Pujara puts away a full toss for four through midwicket.

India 68/1 after 14 overs

Two boundaries in that Keemo Paul over for Shaw as he moves onto 43 off 44 balls — that’s already the highest score by a teenager on Test debut for India. A straight drive followed by a lovely cover drive.

DRINKS: India 56/1 after 12 overs

A productive first hour for India after losing KL Rahul for a duck in the first over. A depleted West Indies bowling lineup feeling the heat.

India 54/1 after 11 overs - Shaw 32*, Pujara 21*

50 partnership! After that early wicket, Pujara and Prithvi have responded in fine style. Two more boundaries in that Bishoo over, one each for the duo. Pujara pulls a short ball to fine leg, Shaw goes aerial and almost clears the fence down the ground.

India 44/1 after 10 overs - Shaw 27*, Pujara 16*

Lewis concedes 8 runs in that over with the deep point coming into play again. Pujara gets another boundary, with a punch through extra cover.

India 36/1 after 9 overs - Shaw 25*, Pujara 10*

Bishoo coming on early is a reminder that this West Indies bowling lineup is not at full strength. Kemar Roach and Jason Holder are missing, and despite that early wicket, their absence is being felt. Just one run from that Bishoo over, a single off the last ball by Shaw to retain strike.

India 35/1 after 8 overs

SHOT! Two glorious straight drives by Cheteshwar Pujara in that Lewis over, two boundaries. Home comfort for Mr. Che.

Windies introduce spin early as Bishoo comes on.

After 7 overs, India 27/1

Gabriel continues to impress with pace and accuracy from one end. Fastest ball of 150.1 kph so far, with average over 140. Just a couple of singles in that over.

After 6 overs, India 25/1

A deep point already for Shaw as Lewis bowls his first over. Gets an easy single with a tap off his back-foot there. Sensible batting. Pujara plays out four dot balls.

After 5 overs, India 24/1

A maiden over by Gabriel to Pujara, who’s being his usual self. Watchful, playing the ball beneath his eye-line, soft hands.

Change from the other end, Sherman Lewis (debutant) gets a go.

After 4 overs, India 24/1

Three boundaries in one over for Prithvi Shaw! First, flicked through square leg, timed to perfection. Then a leg glance to fine leg. Off the last ball, cuts and cuts hard and the ball flies over the slip cordon. Paul straying all over the place in that over. On the pads or well outside off. Poor bowling.

After 3 overs, India 12/1

Gabriel continues to bowl at a good pace, cuts Pujara into half off the first ball in that over.

After 2 overs, India 7/1

FOUR! The first boundary in Test cricket for Prithvi Shaw. A lovely punch off the back-foot through point off Keemo Paul.

Meanwhile, here’s that KL Rahul dismissal. Bizarre decision to review that.

After 1 over, India 3/1 - KL RAHUL OUT!

KL Rahul is out for a DUCK in the very first over. And India lose a review as well. Poor call to refer that to DRS — as plumb as it could get. Gabriel pitches it up on the fourth stump, the ball nips back in and hits him below the knee. That forward press cost Rahul. Shaw gets off the mark with a three, a nice punch through point.

9.31 am: TIME FOR ACTION!

-13th youngest Indian Test cricket.

-2nd youngest Indian opener in Tests.

Prithvi Shaw walks out to bat for India in Test cricket for the first time alongside KL Rahul.

9.28 am: From his famous 546 in school cricket to his impressive knocks in first class cricket, a look at Prithvi Shaw’s rise here.

9.25 am: National anthem time...

What a stat!

9.15 am: Shaw is the 30th teenager to play Test cricket for India and the 13th youngest of all time. He’s also the 2nd youngest opening batsman for India in Tests.

9.12 am: Debutant from West Indies as well...

9.08 am: If you’re wondering about the low turnout in Rajkot today, here’s more about it.

9.05 am: TEAM NEWS:

Big news from the West Indies camp is that captain Jason Holder is missing, with an ankle injury. Kraigg Brathwaite leads the side.

INDIA: Lokesh Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (W), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav

WINDIES: Kraigg Brathwaite (C), Kieran Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Sunil Ambris, Shane Dowrich (W), Keemo Paul, Devendra Bishoo, Sherman Lewis, Shannon Gabriel

9.01 am: TOSS

Back home from England, Virat Kohli wins the toss! INDIA WILL BAT FIRST.

08.55 am: Hello all and welcome to the live blog of day one of the first Test between India and West Indies...

Virat Kohli said Wednesday India are looking to “cement” the team’s misfiring top order as teenage opener Prithvi Shaw was named in the final 12 for the first Test against the West Indies.

The world’s number one Test side suffered from inconsistent top order during their overseas tours of South Africa and England, losing 1-2 and 1-4 respectively.

The two-match West Indies series starting in Rajkot on Thursday gives India an opportunity to work on their problem areas ahead of the all-important tour of Australia starting next month.

“I think the top order getting cemented with these two Test matches, that’s what we are looking at,” Kohli told reporters.

“These guys are new, so they will take a bit of time to get into it. But they definitely have the skill set,” he said.

“They should look at it as an opportunity and not think of pressure, because they’re very young, and it’s a great chance for them to cement their place and play for a long time.”

The 18-year-old Shaw, who was chosen ahead of uncapped Mayank Agarwal and one-Test old Hanuma Vihari from the 15-man squad, is expected to open the batting alongside Lokesh Rahul.

Shaw has accumulated 1418 runs in 14 first-class games including seven centuries and made a strong showing for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.

Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan managed just 162 runs in eight innings in seaming English conditions and was subsequently dropped ahead of the West Indiesseries.

“We know as a team and everyone on the outside also knows the areas we need to improve on, and definitely if you look at sides that win Test matches contributions at the top and contributions in the lower order are more crucial,” said Kohli.

“Because whatever happens in the middle is connected to either the top order or what the lower order does.”