Mayank Agarwal and skipper Virat Kohli both scored fine half centuries as India recovered from a shaky start to finish Day 1 of the second test at 264/5 in Kingston on Friday.
India went in with an unchanged line up, while the home side included debutant Rahkeem Cornwall and wicket keeper Jahmar Hamilton in place of Miguel Cummins and Shai Hope respectively.
After being sent into bat, the Indian opening duo of Agarwal and KL Rahul added 32 for the opening wicket before the latter was dismissed by a peach of a delivery from Windies skipper Holder- edging one to slip, where the 140kg Cornwall took the first catch of his test career.
The 26 year old Antiguan off-spinner then struck with the ball as well, bagging the prize scalp of Cheteshwar Pujara for just 6, with the Saurashtra star caught by Shamarh Brooks at backward-point.
Kohli along with Karnataka batsman Agarwal brought the innings back on track with a crucial 69 run stand for the third wicket, before the former fell for a well made 55, again caught at slip by Cornwall off the tireless Holder.
While the West Indies skipper was always threatening with the ball, he didn’t quite receive the same support from the other bowlers- Shannon Gabriel in particular was disappointing, and this allowed India to to rebuild after spells of pressure.
Ajinkya Rahane looked comfortable in his short stay at the wicket before edging a Roach delivery to keeper Hamilton for 24.
Holder then returned to pick up the key wicket of his opposite number for 76, with the Indian skipper giving Hamilton his second catch of the day.
Just when it looked like the home side could potentially cause some damage in the final session, the pair of Hanuma Vihari (42) and wicket keeper Rishabh Pant (27) batted sensibly and saw the day through without any further damage. The visitors eventually finished at 264/5- a pretty decent day for them, all things considered.
Holder was the West Indies’ best bowler as he finished with figures of 3/39, while Roach and Cornwall picked up a wicket apiece.
India lead the two-match series 1-0 after a resounding 318 run win in the first Test at North Sound, Antigua.