Caribbean Jolt: India's Confident Chase Hits Early Turbulence on Day Three

You know, sometimes in Test cricket, things just don't go according to the script. Even when you've dominated for two whole days, a single session can, well, just throw a bit of a curveball. And that’s precisely what unfolded in the opening session of Day Three of the first Test between India and West Indies, leaving quite a few of us scratching our heads over our lunchtime sandwiches.

India, after a truly commanding performance, had every reason to feel good. They'd wrapped up West Indies for a paltry 150 in the first innings, then piled on a colossal 421 for 5 before declaring, giving them a mammoth 271-run lead. Then, to be fair, the Windies showed some fight in their second innings, declaring at 200 for 5, setting India a seemingly manageable target of 197. "Easy," you might have thought. "A walk in the park for this batting lineup." But, honestly, cricket often has other ideas.

What should have been a serene stroll towards victory turned rather nervy. The hosts, with a modest total to defend, found an unexpected surge of energy, or maybe it was just a touch of genius from their bowlers. Before anyone had really settled into their seats, the scoreboard began to tell a story of discomfort for the visiting side.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young sensation who'd graced the first innings with a magnificent debut century, found himself back in the pavilion for just four runs. A harsh reality check, you could say. And then, almost mirroring his teammate's fate, Shubman Gill, another incredibly talented batsman, followed him shortly after, also contributing just four to the total. Two quick blows, almost before India had registered double digits!

Suddenly, what was a pursuit now felt a lot more like a precarious balancing act. At the stroke of lunch, India stood at a rather uneasy 10 for 2. Yes, you read that right — 10 runs, two crucial wickets down. It wasn't the kind of start Rohit Sharma, the captain, or the team management would have envisioned, not with the kind of dominant position they’d been in.

Now, as the players headed in for their break, the real test begins. Standing firm at the crease, entrusted with the task of navigating India through this choppy water, are Rohit Sharma himself, unbeaten on a watchful zero, and the ever-reliable Virat Kohli, also yet to get off the mark. Their presence, of course, brings a certain calm, a confidence, a history of incredible run-chases. But the pressure, for once, feels very, very real.

The afternoon session promises to be absolutely enthralling. Will India steady the ship and cruise to victory as expected, or will the West Indies, buoyed by these early breakthroughs, stage a truly remarkable comeback? Only time will tell, but this first Test has just gotten a whole lot more interesting, hasn't it?