First Test against West Indies : India in deep trouble

Antigua: Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel turned out to be too hot to handle as West Indies reduced India to 68/3 at lunch on Day one of the first Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound in Antigua on Thursday.

At the lunch break, KL Rahul was batting on 37 while vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 10 as the two added an unbeaten 43-run partnership.

Electing to bowl after a delayed start due to the wet outfield, West Indies set the ball rolling as Roach tested both Indian openers – Mayank Agarwal and Rahul. While Rahul managed to stay put, Roach's burst saw Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara back in the dressing room in the same over.

Agarwal perished for five as West Indies opted for a review to overturn the on-field decision. Pujara was the next man to get out as he pushed at an away-going delivery and Shai Hope took his second catch of the match.

However, it was Gabriel, who scalped the big wicket as he dismissed Virat Kohli in the eighth over to give the home team their third breakthrough of the morning. The West Indian pacer set Kohli up, bowling two sharp bouncers.

While the Indian skipper managed to tackle them, he threw his hands at a wide delivery that followed the bouncers and perished as Shamarh Brooks, making his debut, took the catch.

Scoreboard

India (1st Innings) Lokesh Rahul batting 37 Mayank Agarwal c Hope b Roach 5 Cheteshwar Pujara c Hope b Roach 2 Virat Kohli c Brooks b Gabriel 9 Ajinkya Rahane batting 10

Extras: (LB-4, NB-1) 5

Total: (For 3 wickts in 24 overs) 68

Fall of Wickets: 1/5 2/7 3/25

Bowling: Kemar Roach 6-1-12-2, Shannon Gabriel 7-1-26-1, Jason Holder 6-4-8-0, Miguel Cummins 5-0-18-0.

Rathour replaces Bangar

Former opener Vikram Rathour will replace Sanjay Bangar as India's new batting coach while Bharath Arun and R Sridhar were expectedly retained as bowling and fielding coaches respectively.

The senior national selection committee headed by MSK Prasad on Thursday recommended three names each for all the support staff positions and the top names in each category will be appointed after the formalities with regards to Conflict of Interest declaration is complete.

The 50-year-old Rathour has played six Tests and seven ODIs in 1996 without much success but was a domestic heavyweight for Punjab.