KOLKATA: Debutant batsman Rohit Sharma with an unbeaten 127 and seamer Ravichandran Ashwin with 92 not out rescued India from disaster and steered them to a commanding position against West Indies on second day of the first Test here at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Rohit, who five days ago made a double hundred in ODI against Australia, buckled down to become the 14th Indian to make a century on Test debut. He put on 73 first with his captain MS Dhoni, but it was his association with Ashwin that transformed the game completely.
India ended the day with a lead of 120, the unbroken seventh-wicket stand worth 198, and No. 8 Ashwin eight short of his second Test hundred.
Before this partnership, Dhoni's 42 was crucial in breaking the hold Shillingford had gained.
Sachin Tendulkar fell for just 10 in his 199th Test the penultimate match before retirement. He was uncertain against Shillingford as well, even though he drove him for two boundaries past midwicket. He was soon hit on the back thigh pad as he failed to read a doosra. Umpire Llong raised the finger after some thought, even as side-on views showed the ball would have gone over, something Tendulkar indicated to his team-mates as he walked into the dressing room.
In Shillingford's next over, Virat Kohli was given out caught at forward short leg. India were 83 for five now, but Rohit and Ashwin made a remarkable recovery to take India 354 for six at stumps.