It is tough to recover from a dismal first innings performance. A low score in the first essay puts teams under enormous pressure, leaving them with a catch up job. When India were 126/5 on the first day of the third Test, there was a danger of being bowled out for under 200. The home team having gained momentum after a resolute fifth day’s play in the second Test would have then taken a giant. R Ashwin, who has been phenomenal in the series being second highest run-scorer behind Virat Kohli and the top wicket getter struck his fourth Test ton and second of the series to take India to safety in company of Wriddhiman Saha, who registered his maiden Test ton. Ashwin made it clear that his century off 265 balls at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium was indeed special. “It is indeed. I mean, if we look at the scenario in hindsight later on this could very well be a series-defining knock because we were in some trouble yesterday and there was every chance that we could be skittled out and also I thought it needed a bit of application. “It was definitely not a wicket where you could just plonk your front foot and play through the line. It was a hard-fought day yesterday and it was no different today. We just hope we can capitalise on the rearguard action later tomorrow.”

The all-rounder who cracked his second century in three innings batting at No. 6 said he had to make many changes to get accustomed to the new position. “It's difficult to try and think too far ahead. That's easily possible if you are batting at No. 7 or 8, which has happened to me before when I have batted at No 8. When I have batted at No. 8, you think like a bowler at times and want to get a few extra runs. So I used to play a few more shots. “My goal is very simple. If I get a good start, if I get to 20 runs, then I'm going to capitalise on it. Then I'm going to play percentage cricket. It's all about trying to play the percentages and trying to string together a partnership and not look too far ahead in the game. One thing I try to do is to bat sessions. There have been times when I've scored hundreds in two sessions or less than two sessions. This is kind of different, but I do enjoy it. It's time-consuming and concentration-consuming but it's enjoyable.” With the wicket getting slower, India bowled with a lot of discipline as West Indies ended day two on 107/1 from 47 overs. Though only one wicket was fallen courtesy a run-out, Ashwin believed that the hard work put in by the bowlers on the day will fetch rewards on the third day. “I thought we bowled pretty well, and pulled things back towards the end of the day today. If we can extract the same amount of control then tomorrow, you never know if it could be the 1st or 2nd session, but I'm definitely sure that we will get the rewards for what we showed today.”