Living up to the hype about his talent, Prithvi Shaw became the youngest Indian to score a century on Test debut. Steering the team to 133/1 at lunch on day one of the series-opener against the West Indies, Shaw also became the youngest Indian to score a 50 on his debut in the longest format.
Shaw, who became the 293rd cricketer to represent India in Tests, showed supreme confidence from ball one although he was not facing one of the best attacks.
The 18-year-old punched the second ball he faced towards the cover boundary for a three, his first runs in international cricket, easing whatever nerves were left inside him.
Shaw played a shot through the cover to get two runs off Keemo Paul to reach his century. He punched the air as he took the second run to celebrate his first Test century. With this, Shaw became the fourth youngest player to hit a Test century on debut.
Earlier, pacer Shanon Gabriel had trapped Shaw's opening partner KL Rahul in front with a sharp incoming delivery to give the West Indies an early breakthrough. Gabriel was clocking in the higher 140kmph, but that did not faze Shaw. Shaw continued batting with confidence.
However, Rahul wasted a DRS as the ball had clearly crashed into the stumps.
Despite Gabriel's initial burst, the ball was not doing much as the wicket wore a greenish look.
Shaw and Cheteshwar Pujara, who came in after Rahul's dismissal, gave the innings a move on and did not look in any sort of trouble. Pujara got to his half-century off 67 balls, with a straight drive off debutant Sherman Lewis.
Apart from Gabriel, the West Indies attack lacked teeth, and Shaw capitalised on that.
While he punched and drove effortlessly off pacers, Shaw was equally comfortable against the spin duo of Devendra Bishoo and Roston Chase.
The West Indians looked listless on the field as boundaries came at will for India. The visitors were dealt a severe blow even before the start of the game with their captain Jason Holder pulling out with an ankle injury.
Kraigg Brathwaite is captaining the side in Holder's absence.
Their lead pacer, Kemar Roach, is also not playing the series opener due to a bereavement.
(With inputs from PTI)
