Sawt Falasteen - Ton-up Rahul, Gill steer India into lead in West Indies Test

The hosts were 218-3 at lunch after Gill went for 50, the only wicket to fall in the morning session at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

Rahul struck his 11th Test ton, kissing the India flag on his helmet and soaking in the applause from the few hundred fans sprinkled in a sea of orange seats at the 132,000-capacity stadium.

Starting the day on 121-2 in response to West Indies' 162, Rahul and Gill put on 98 runs to pile on the agony against the opposition bowlers.

The two overnight batters had a few nervy moments.

Rahul survived a reprieve on 57 when an edge from his bat went between the wicketkeeper and slip in the first over.

Rahul, who started the day on 53, hit regular boundaries with his exquisite timing and technique to floor the visitors, forcing skipper Roston Chase to rotate his bowlers.

Gill looked to find his mojo after a cautious start and reached his eighth Test fifty with a single off debutant spinner Khary Pierre.

The captain soon got out to Chase's off-spin after he attempted a reverse sweep but lobbed it to Justin Greaves at slip.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel, on 14, was batting alongside Rahul at the break.

West Indies won the toss at the start of the two-match series but their batting faltered against an inspired Indian attack led by Mohammed Siraj, who claimed 4-40.

T.Khatib--SF-PST