Day 3 of the second Test between India and West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi delivered the sort of drama that only Test cricket can conjure. After three days of dominance, India seemed destined to wrap things up in a hurry. But as the sun dipped behind the stands, West Indies—long considered down and out—found a backbone and produced a partnership for the ages, ensuring the contest would stretch into a fourth day.
India’s stranglehold on the match began in the morning session, when left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav weaved his magic with a five-wicket haul, his fifth in just 15 Tests. Starting the day at 140 for 4 in their first innings, West Indies soon found themselves in a familiar predicament. Kuldeep’s spell was a masterclass in deception and control, picking up 5 for 82 and exposing the visitors’ technical frailties on a surface that demanded patience and precision. His delivery to dismiss Shai Hope—a flighted ball that drifted, dipped, and clipped off-stump—was a highlight, and his consistency continues to silence critics who once labeled him as condition-dependent.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate was effusive in his praise for Kuldeep after the day’s play. “I think the difference with Kuldeep is that he’s a mystery spinner, not easy to pick. That gives him an element of danger compared to finger spinners. But I don’t think we were a million miles off this afternoon, not to point fingers at our bowlers at all,” said Doeschate. “There were three very close decisions—if even two of those had gone our way, it would’ve been a much better day. Kuldeep put the ball in the right areas and spun it both ways. You can see how small the margins are—it’s the difference between a play-and-miss and an edge that carries. The fact that many of these guys haven’t faced much of him before also adds to his mystery, making him more effective.”
Bowled out for 248 in 81.5 overs, the West Indies trailed by a mammoth 270 runs after India’s imposing 518 for 5 declared. With such a cushion, captain Shubman Gill had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on. The move was aggressive, but not without risk. The Indian bowlers, refreshed and brimming with confidence, set out to attack again, and it seemed the script would follow the same old pattern.
Mohammed Siraj made the first breakthrough in the ninth over, dismissing Tagenarine Chanderpaul for 10. It was a well-directed short ball that induced a top edge, and Shubman Gill took a sharp catch at short mid-wicket. Washington Sundar soon joined the act, bowling Alick Athanaze for 7 with a classic off-spinner’s delight—drift, flight, and sharp turn to clip the top of off stump. At 35 for 2, West Indies were staring down the barrel, still 235 runs adrift and seemingly destined for another innings defeat.
But then, something changed. John Campbell and Shai Hope, the third-wicket pair, dug in. They combined patience with aggression, countering the Indian spin threat with soft hands and nimble footwork. Campbell, in particular, was fearless—he took on Ravindra Jadeja with a clean six over long-on and survived three nerve-wracking LBW appeals off Sundar, even winning a review thanks to UltraEdge confirming the ball had brushed his glove. Hope, for his part, was elegance personified, threading boundaries through the off-side and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
As the session wore on, the partnership blossomed. Kuldeep Yadav, reintroduced in the 22nd over, was greeted with a six and a four from Campbell, who looked increasingly assured. The duo added 79 runs before the drinks break and extended their stand beyond it, bringing up the first century partnership for West Indies in 2025—a milestone that drew raucous applause from the visiting gallery. This was not just a statistical achievement; it was a statement of intent.
By stumps, West Indies were 173 for 2 after 49 overs, still trailing by 97 runs but very much alive. Campbell remained unbeaten on 87 off 145 balls, his highest Test score, while Hope was not out on 66 off 103 balls. Their 100-run partnership was the highest for West Indies in seven Tests this year and marked the first time in six Tests on their last three tours to India that the visitors had managed to take a game this deep.
Khary Pierre, West Indies’ left-arm spinner, offered insight into the team’s mindset after being asked to follow on. “Application,” Pierre said at the press conference. “We spoke about it in the dressing room—Sammy and the coaching staff emphasised taking the session. This is the first time we’ve been able to win a session in the two Tests so far. The lower order showed a bit of fight and application, and we went out with the same approach. Once you have that mindset, even on a lower wicket, you can do it. That was the message going out to bat—set our necks and apply ourselves.”
Earlier in the day, West Indies’ lower order had frustrated the Indian spinners, with Khary Pierre and Anderson Phillip adding a valuable 42-run partnership before lunch. Pierre was eventually undone by a sharp delivery from Jasprit Bumrah, while Phillip displayed remarkable tenacity, remaining unbeaten on 24 off 93 balls. Jayden Seales was the last man out, giving Kuldeep his fifth wicket and wrapping up the innings.
India’s approach to bowling was also notable for its tactical rotation. Jasprit Bumrah, the pace spearhead, was held back until the 33rd over of the West Indies’ second innings—a clear sign of workload management rather than injury concern. The Indian think tank, led by coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Gill, has placed increasing emphasis on managing fatigue across back-to-back series, ensuring their bowlers remain fresh for the challenges ahead.
For all their dominance, India were reminded that Test cricket is as much a test of patience as it is of skill. Even with a 270-run lead, a determined partnership can shift momentum in a heartbeat. For West Indies, this was a day of restoration—a partnership that rekindled belief in a side searching for its spine. For India, it was a lesson in endurance; the finish line may be in sight, but the final steps are always the hardest.
As the teams head into Day 4, all eyes will be on Campbell and Hope. Can they continue their resistance and script a famous escape, or will India’s bowlers find a way through? One thing is certain: the second Test in Delhi has come alive, and cricket fans around the world are in for a thrilling finish.
