When Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli raised a 100-run stand for the third wicket on Day One of the opening Test of the four-match test series against the West Indies, it was their third century stand in five innings together. Their average partnership for the third wicket is over 100 and it is obvious that the two Delhi batsmen love batting together for India. They are close friends off the field and the same camaraderie is seen on the field as they launch a counter-attack each time the bowlers start to dominate. Dhawan, who made 84 (147b, 9x4, 1x6) as India ended first day’s play at 302 for four, put down their success to their understanding. “Yes, we are good friends off the field and we are same on the field too. Sometimes, he likes to be quiet so I give him that space. Once he comes and talks, I know he is up for some fun talk and we talk a lot, have fun and laugh. I feel it is very important that you are comfortable out there as that brings out your natural instincts,” Dhawan told BCCI.TV The crucial partnership put India in a strong position. Dhawan said with Kohli at the other end, the two did not feel the pressure. “Virat played a great knock and it was good to bat with him. I really enjoyed the partnership as both of us are stroke makers and we kept rotating the strike. It was also a bit easier session than the first one. We were looking to get 25 runs and kept building on that and got to 100 runs in a very short time.” If Dhawan and Kohli were able to score freely in the second session, it was partly due to Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara’s efforts in the first session. With Shannon Gabriel consistently bowling a good line and making generous use of the short ball, Dhawan did well to weather the storm in the first hour after India had elected to bat first with five specialist batsmen, five bowlers and a wicket keeper. “The first hour was very challenging. The West Indies bowlers were bowling a good line and length and hitting the deck very hard, especially Gabriel. I enjoyed the challenge and was patient. My strategy was to stay on the wicket and create partnerships.I waited for loose deliveries and it was only in the second session that I got loose deliveries.” While Kohli brought up his 12th Test hundred, Dhawan missed out on his fifth. Had he got to triple figures, Dhawan would have kept his amazing streak of getting centuries in the first game of the series. Dhawan already has a Test century on debut in India, a century in Australia and Sri Lanka in his first match in those countries. In Antigua, he picked the wrong line to sweep Devendra Bishoo and was trapped in front. “Yes, I was disappointed that I got out on 84. I was set and was playing good and safe cricket. I was sad because as a team, we don't want to get out before the lunch or tea session. At the same time, I am also happy that I started on a good note and would like to continue my performance.”

Ahead of the match, it was not certain that Dhawan would get a game as KL Rahul, who had established himself as the third opener was gunning for a place in the XI. In the two practice games, he scored half-centuries which followed his ODI century on debut in Zimbabwe. “Everyone feels the pressure as Rahul is playing amazing cricket at the moment. He scored a century on his ODI (debut) and also did well in the practice games. Vijay has been a consistent performer for our side. We have a healthy competition and I prepared well and I made sure that my fitness level and my skill level is good as that is under my control and left everything else to God. I knew my strategy and I stuck to that and enjoyed my innings.”