Rohit Sharma's debut ton helps India win first Test

Debutant centurion Rohit Sharma's impressive 177-run display helped India beat West Indies by 51 runs in the first Test which ended in Kolkata on Friday.

Rohit, who scored a double-century in an ODI against Australia just four days before the first Test, was in good form. He came to the crease after India had lost four wickets for just 82 runs.

Rohit and captain MS Dhoni joined forces to resurrect the innings. A normally free-flowing Rohit, batted sensibly and respected the demands of the situation. He took 13 deliveries to get his first runs in Test cricket, and they came via a pull to the long-leg boundary.

As he grew in confidence, there were glimpses of his form and he hit some exquisite drives against the pace of Tino Best and turn of Shane Shillingford. But what stood out was his back-foot defence against the spinners.

Rohit and Dhoni added 73 runs for the sixth wicket, before Dhoni was dismissed. Rohit and R Ashwin then dropped anchor. They put on a 100-run stand from 150 balls, and then 150 runs from 237 balls.

The seemingly impenetrable defence soon deflated the West Indies and the lead they once possessed, diminished. While Shillingford continued to apply the pressure, Veerasammy Permaul, could not remotely trouble the batsmen.

Rohit brought up his century from 194 balls and it included 13 boundaries. He and Ashwin added 280 runs for the seventh wicket before Rohit fell for a solid 177 runs from 301 balls. The pair helped India take a 219-run first innings lead.

West Indies faltered in reply and crumbled for 168 runs from just 54.1 overs. Mohammed Shami, another debutant, starred for India with the ball and claimed nine wickets in the match. Rohit won the Man-of-the-Match award for his match-winning knock.

"This is even more special because it's a Test hundred on debut," Rohit said, when comparing his Test hundred to the ODI double hundred he scored recently. "See, anywhere you get a hundred, it's very special. And on top of that if your team wins, that's like the icing on the cake. We've got to wait another three days to see what happens in the game. Both these innings are very close to my heart. With that innings in Bangalore we won the series, and here... let's hope that we can get into a good position tomorrow, and then I'd be more happy."

"Being a sportsman, there is a lot of inspiration to take from so many sportspersons from around the world," Rohit said. "You look at Michael Hussey, he made his debut when he was 30. There are a lot of other cricketers who had to wait for their opportunity. I'm no different, I'm one of them. I knew once I got an opportunity, I'd try and make the most of it. I never wanted to put my head down, I believe that if you have the ability, the talent, if you know you can do it, there is no need to worry about anything."