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Kolkata - Gautam Gambhir hit an impressive half-century as India made a confident start to reach 132-1 in their first innings at lunch on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies on Monday.
The left-handed opener was unbeaten with 57 at the break, having so far cracked seven fours in an 87-ball knock for his 17th half-century in 43 Tests. Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 33.
Gambhir added 66 for the opening wicket with free-scoring Virender Sehwag (38) and the same number of runs for the unfinished second wicket with Dravid after India won the toss on an easy-paced pitch at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Sehwag played some attractive shots against the West Indies pace attack, hitting eight fours in his brisk 33-ball knock before driving seamer Darren Sammy straight to Adrian Barath at short mid-wicket.
Only a few thousand spectators were present at the 67,000-capacity stadium to watch India make a brisk start as Sehwag and Gambhir added 50 runs in just 10.2 overs.
Sehwag, who scored half-centuries in both innings of the opening Test in New Delhi, went for shots early, hitting Sammy and paceman Fidel Edwards each for two fours in an over.
He then smashed three successive fours off Sammy before falling to the same bowler immediately after the drinks interval.
India retained the side that won the opening Test of the three-match series by five wickets, while the West Indies brought in opener Barath and paceman Kemar Roach in place of Kieran Powell and Ravi Rampaul.
Teams:
India: Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwg, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Yuvraj Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Umesh Yadav.
West Indies: Adrian Barath, Kraigg Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh (wk), Darren Sammy (capt), Kemar Roach, Fidel Edwards, Devendra Bishoo.
