Ajinkya Rahane scored a vital fifty before rain forced an early tea, with India reaching 134/4 on day one of the first Test between India and the West Indies, in Antigua.
Rahane was unbeaten on 50 and Hanuma Vihari was on 18—the duo having put on 41 runs for the fifth wicket, before rain stopped play.
Opener K.L. Rahul, who helped India recover from a top-order collapse, frittered away a solid start, falling for 44 in the post-lunch session after wicketkeeper Shai Hope took a smart catch down leg-side off Roston Chase's bowling.
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This was after Rahul along with an initially circumspect Ajinkya Rahane (38 batting) adding 68 runs for the fourth wicket.
Rahul, who had a wretched 18 months in the red-ball format, before this Test match, looked composed in the first session after India were reduced to 25/3 inside the first eight overs on a track that offered bounce and lateral movement for new ball bowlers Kemar Roach (2/12 in 6 overs) and Shannon Gabriel (1/26 in 7 overs).
Mayank Agarwal (5), the ever-dependable Cheteshwar Pujara (2) and skipper Virat Kohli (9) were back in the pavilion in the first hour after Jason Holder put the visitors in on a bouncy track.
Rahul (37 batting, 73 balls) and vice-captain Rahane (10 batting, 43 balls) added 42 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket and stemmed the rot going into the lunch break after 24 overs were bowled during the opening session.
(With PTI inputs)
