'We are in a great position' – Mayank Agarwal happy with India's progress in Kingston Test

On day one, India posted 264/5 with skipper Virat Kohli (76) and Agarwal (55) making fifties. They shared a 69-run third-wicket stand, before Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 42 and 27. For West Indies, captain Jason Holder picked up three wickets while Kemar Roach and debutant Rahkeem Cornwall chipped in with one each.

"[Conditions were] challenging. I thought the first session the ball was doing a bit. Kemar Roach and [Jason] Holder bowled great areas. It wasn't easy – there was a lot of moisture," said Agarwal after play on Friday, 30 August.

Agarwal praised the West Indies bowlers, especially Holder, whose victims were Agarwal, KL Rahul and Kohli. "I think Holder is bowling great areas, he is not giving you an inch.

"He is there pegging in those areas, pegging on length and short of length. And you know he doesn't give free deliveries for you to score off of," Agarwal continued. "So, the pressure is always there even if you defend. The first spell he bowled six-seven overs, and in that he gave three or four maidens, so as a batsman you know you're not getting much out of him.

"I can say it [the wicket] got a little better to bat on after the first session, the wicket got a lot harder as the sun beat down, the wicket lost some of its moisture. It just kept getting a little better to bat on, but I think credit must be given to the West Indian bowlers."

Agarwal also had special words for debutant Cornwall, the off-spinning all-rounder. Of the 90 overs bowled on the opening day, Cornwall accounted for 27, which also included eight maidens; India's star batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was his first international victim.

"Rahkeem is very, very [consistent]," said Agarwal. "He forms good clusters and he keeps bowling those areas, keeps bowling those areas," said Agarwal. "I thought it wasn't very easy to score off him. We took our time and it was very important for Virat and me to get a partnership going and it was important that one of us went on to score big. He definitely gets a lot more bounce compared to many other spinners."

Rahkeem, for his part, was delighted with his performance: "It was a good feeling to get my first Test wicket. It was nothing really new to me, but it was a new feeling," he said.

He also accounted for a couple of catches. "The seamers put the ball in the right areas. When I saw the first ball come in [at slip] I just said I have to hold it and be confident and go from there," he added.