It is not often that only 43 runs are scored in a session but on the hard-fought day of cricket at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, the Indian batting order had to dig deep and a heavy outfield ensured that run-scoring became a mammoth task on the opening day. Against a disciplined bowling performance, the Indian batsmen had to show patience and wait endlessly for a loose ball. In such a scenario, opener Lokesh Rahul stood out as he made a stroke-filled 50 off 65 balls. He launched a counterattack and his resolve only got stronger with the fall of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli in quick succession. Though he was consistently beaten initially as the wicket offered a spongy bounce, Rahul drove the fuller deliveries with confidence while the short deliveries were either cut or pulled, resulting in six boundaries off the three fast bowlers - Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and Miguel Cummins. In an interview with BCCI.TV, Rahul said he was disappointed to get out 18 minutes before the lunch session, but added that his dismissal will only help him get better.

The home team maintained a disciplined line today. At the end of the day, how do you rate India’s (234/5) position? I’d like to say the the batsmen also showed a lot of disciplined today. We could have easily been bowled out for 180-200, but the boys showed a lot of discipline. R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha’s partnership (108) was really crucial. Those 100 runs will really help us in the Test. We are happy with our efforts today, considering a damp wicket and heavy outfield, we will take 235/5 at the end of the wicket. Run-scoring on this wicket was difficult, but you were getting the runs quickly and your S/R of 76 tells a different story. When I went into bat, the new ball was doing a bit, so I decided to take the attack to them. We lost a couple of wickets as well, so my plan was to attack them and put the loose balls away and put the pressure back on the bowlers. It worked well for me and I got a fifty but it was unfortunate the way I got out after that. It is a good learning for me and I will only get better from here. How different was this wicket from the first two Test? This wicket had a spongy bounce. Yes, it was in the first session. The wicket was damp and that is why the spongy bounce. Otherwise the wicket is fabulous. There is something in it for everybody. The batsman could play their shots and the bowlers bent their backs and came hard as there was something in it for them. It is a fantastic wicket and it is going to be exciting four days of cricket. India were in a tight spot, but with the runs scored in the final session, especially in the last 10 overs, do you feel India have made a good recovery? Had it been any other outfield, the score would have been 260-270. That is a good enough score on the first day when we lost early wickets and considering the slow outfield. We are really happy. We are now looking to build on the score and looking to get a big first innings total, comeback and bowl stronger and learn a little bit from the West Indies bowlers and bowl with discipline. We have the firepower in our bowling line-up to exploit the conditions. Shikhar Dhawan spoke about the camaraderie the three openers share. Tell us about the bond. It is very good to have a healthy competition in the team. It only speaks highly of our batting lineup and the kind of effort everybody is putting in and the kind of form they are in. Unfortunately, some guys missed out today but we know we have great talent and we have done it over and over again and proved ourselves.

Only two openers can play so we enjoy each other’s company and each other’s success. We are always learning from each other. There is never that feeling that maybe I should not give him some advice as he might take my place. There is never that feeling between us and the team overall. It’s a great place for a team to be in.