India, Oct. 11 -- When Yashasvi Jaiswal walked off the field at stumps on Day 1 of the 2nd Test vs West Indies, the score beside him read 173 not out. India stood comfortably at 318 for 2 after the first 90 overs of the game. Shubman Gill remains with him in the crease at 20. The day belonged to the young Indian opener, but as Delhi's evening shadows lengthened, one question crystallized in the mind of the fans: Could this innings become something truly historic?

Triple centuries in Test cricket are mythology. Only 33 have been scored in the format's long history. Even rarer is it for an Indian batter to go past the landmark. Virender Sehwag and Karun Nair are the only two Indian batters to have Test triple Hundreds under their belt. His...