RAJKOT – Teenager Prithvi Shaw became the youngest Indian to hit a half-century on debut with an unbeaten 75 as the hosts reached 133 for one at lunch on day one of the first Test against the West Indies on Thursday.
Shaw, a diminutive right-hander, reached his 50 in a quickfire 56 deliveries. At the break he was batting alongside Cheteshwar Pujara, on 56, in a strong recovery after India lost an early wicket in Rajkot.
Lokesh Rahul was trapped lbw off Shannon Gabriel for nought in the very first over, after skipper Virat Kohli's men elected to bat first.
Shaw then marked his international arrival with an array of strokes against what looked like a toothless West Indian bowling attack.
Shaw hit 11 fours in his 74-ball knock and put on an unbeaten 130-run second wicket partnership with Pujara, who was left playing second fiddle to his much younger and more aggressive partner.
SHAW'ndaar Innings from #PrithviShaw💯🔛 On Debut! 🔝 Class innings #TeamIndia #INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/1ebWPgh3fQ
— Govind Pandey (@imgovindpandey) October 4, 2018
The teenager got a single off spinner Roston Chase to bring up his half-century, raising his bat to an applauding Indian dressing room.
Pujara, 30, also played an uncharacteristically quick knock as he brought up fifty off 67 deliveries.
Kraigg Brathwaite, who is standing as captain after Jason Holder suffered a last-minute ankle injury, juggled his bowling options without much success on a green wicket.
Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo was introduced in the ninth over of the innings but failed to pick up a wicket in his five overs in the first session.