Rahul Dravid still relishes the smell of a combat in Test match cricket. The stage continues to inspire him. The technically accomplished Dravid's commitment and fierce focus were on view on the second day of the engrossing first Digicel Test at the Sabina Park.
Dravid was unbeaten on 45 as Indian finished Tuesday at 91 for three, gaining an overall lead of 164 on a surface of inconsistent bounce.
Earlier, swing bowler Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma with his hit-the-deck methods shared six wickets between them as the West Indies was bundled out for 173 in its first innings.
The West Indies fought hard when India batted a second time and Virat Kohli (14 batting) was given a torrid time by scorching spell of short-pitched bowling from Fidel Edwards late in the day.
Looking vulnerable against the lifting deliveries, Kohli was struck on the body once, was almost picked up at short-leg and all but played on when Edwards unleashed a fuller length delivery.
At the other end, Dravid kept down the deliveries that climbed into him with exceptional purity of technique.
Dravid, however, was fortunate on six when he was grassed at second slip by Darren Sammy after being probed in the corridor by Ravi Rampaul. The experienced campaigner made the West Indies pay for the lapse.
The steely Dravid, his body and mind in harmony, settled down. The experienced batsman's front-footed cover-drive off Rampaul was a gorgeous stroke. Dravid's square-cut off impressive leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo revealed the quickness with which he could pick the length.
India was rocked at the start when Murali Vijay was trapped in front by a grubber from Ravi Rampaul. The delivery highlighted the unpredictable nature of the surface.
The other opener, debutant Abhinav Mukund, made a strong impression with his sound back-foot play and the manner in which he `left' deliveries outside the off-stump.
Mukund has a relaxed stance and a still head. He got behind the line in a manner that was reassuring, was unruffled by the short-pitched stuff from the quicks.
Mukund's square-drive off Rampaul was a top shot. So was his impeccable straight-drive off Edwards.
But then, he wasted a start by attempting to cut a faster one from Bishoo that held its line. 'Keeper Baugh pouched a fine catch.
V.V.S. Laxman did not last long; his mistimed flick off the accurate Sammy was held alertly by the bowler.
Earlier, Harbhajan Singh, seven short of the 400-wicket mark ahead of the Test, operated to a teasing off-stump line after lunch.
He also had a silly point in place for the right-hander; this made sense since Harbhajan can get the ball to straighten or leave the right-hander.
The strokeful Carlton Baugh had danced down to Harbhajan before thwacking the bowler over the long-on ropes. Harbhajan soon had his revenge. Drift and spin were on view as the ball struck Baugh's pad and then bat before it was held at silly point.
Skipper Sammy played over an Ishant delivery that was angled into him. The lanky paceman was impressive.
Chanderpaul with his two-eyed stance - the face of the bat pointed towards square-leg as the bowler began his run-up – collected runs in typical fashion with nudges and pushes.
Harbhajan nailed the southpaw. Operating from round-the-wicket, the off-spinner extracted extra bounce to snare Chanderpaul. Caught bat-pad, the left-hander walked. The West Indies innings dissipated.
Leggie Amit Mishra made short work of the tail. India had seized the initiative.
The Indian attack had been reduced to three specialist bowlers after Praveen received his third official warning soon after lunch for running on to the danger area. It was an elementary mistake and bowling coach Eric Simons has work on his hands.
Praveen had earlier proved the doubters - there was a belief that he was effective only with the new ball - wrong with three deadly strikes before lunch.
He got the ball to swing both ways from a whippy wrist action and opened up the Test. The ball was more than 36 overs old when Praveen removed a well-set Adrian Barath (64) with a delivery that left the batsman late.
Praveen, shifting his line admirably to the left-handed Darren Bravo (18), consumed the batsman by taking the sphere away from him. And Brendon Nash was foxed by the movement in the air as he attempted to work one on the on-side; the leading edge was pouched by Raina at third slip. India was back in the hunt.
Ishant Sharma, getting the ball to kick up from short of a good length, demanded attention. He trapped Ramnaresh Sarwan early with an off-cutter; the batsman had padded up.
Barath displayed his potential. He played with soft-hands to meet the ball late or got to the pitch of the ball for the firmer blows.
Between periods of studious defence, he cut, drove and lofted.
