India’s red-hot form in Test cricket continued as they sealed a clinical seven-wicket victory over West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on October 14, 2025, completing a dominant 2-0 sweep in the series. The triumph not only extended India's remarkable unbeaten run against the Caribbean side but also marked a successful debut series as captain for Shubman Gill, who steered his team with composure and tactical awareness.
Resuming the final day at 63 for 1, India needed just 58 more runs to wrap up the match and the series. The hosts made no fuss about the modest target of 121, with K.L. Rahul anchoring the chase with an assured unbeaten 58. The opening session was all about patience and precision—Rahul and Sai Sudharsan built a crucial 79-run partnership for the second wicket, effectively dousing any hopes of a West Indies comeback.
Rahul’s knock, his 21st half-century in Test cricket, was a masterclass in measured aggression and calmness under pressure. He brought up his fifty in 102 deliveries, mixing solid defense with timely boundaries. At the other end, Sudharsan contributed a composed 39 before falling to Roston Chase, who was the pick of the West Indies bowlers with figures of 2 for 36. Captain Shubman Gill, after a brief but brisk 13, also succumbed to Chase, but by then the writing was on the wall for the visitors.
Dhruv Jurel joined Rahul at the crease and, with the target in sight, the duo navigated the final runs without drama. Jurel finished unbeaten on six as India crossed the finish line in 35.2 overs, sparking celebrations in the stands and among teammates. The victory was sealed with a single from Rahul—a fitting end to a chase he had so calmly orchestrated.
Reflecting on his first series as captain, Shubman Gill was candid about the learning curve: “Captaincy a big honour, getting used to it, managing players, all of it. It’s about taking the right options based on game situations and I try to make the one with the best probabilities. We were around 300 ahead, the wickets were dead. That’s why the follow-on. We played NKR because we need seam-bowling allrounders overseas. I’ve batted since I was 3-4, I want to make decisions as a batter not captain while batting. You learn from a young age how to help the team win.”
The five days in Delhi had their tense moments, especially as West Indies mounted a spirited resistance in their second innings. Forced to follow on after being bowled out for 248 in reply to India’s imposing 518 for 5 declared, the visitors showed grit. Shai Hope broke an eight-year drought with a determined century, while John Campbell registered his maiden Test ton, scoring 115. Their efforts propelled West Indies to a respectable 390, ensuring India had to bat twice—a rare occurrence for the hosts when enforcing the follow-on, only the fourth such instance since 1961.
Roston Chase, the West Indies captain, saw positives despite the defeat. “We were always discussing and trying to find ways we could bat through those 80 overs. We came up with a lot of ideas, playing behind the spin, sweeping, using our feet, and it was just about the guys going out there and executing the plans we’d spoken about. I think the guys we have here are some of the best players in the Caribbean. So it’s just for us to use this last Test match as a stepping stone and a confidence booster going into the upcoming series. We just have to keep improving as much as we can from here,” Chase said after the match.
India’s dominance was built on a solid first-innings platform. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s sparkling 175 and Gill’s unbeaten 129 powered the hosts to a mammoth total, laying the groundwork for the bowlers to apply pressure. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja rose to the occasion. Kuldeep, with eight wickets for 186 runs across both innings, was named Player of the Match. He described the conditions as a unique challenge: “This was a totally different wicket. Bowling a lot of overs was the challenge here, I enjoyed bowling here. There wasn’t any drift here. The wicket was too dry. Bowling lot of overs and getting the breakthrough is something I enjoy a lot.”
Jadeja, meanwhile, was awarded Player of the Series for his all-round contributions—104 runs, including a century in the first Test, and eight wickets with the ball. His consistency and versatility once again underlined his value to the Indian setup.
Sai Sudharsan, reflecting on his own performance, said, “It feels really great to be honest. After a good series where we gave them a fight (in England), coming back to India and winning the series is special. I’ve learned a lot in these five games and I’m looking forward to improving on that, and obviously giving a bit more for the team.”
The series sweep extended India’s unbeaten streak against West Indies to 27 Tests since 2002—a testament to their sustained excellence in the format. In fact, this marked India’s tenth consecutive Test series win over the Caribbean side, equalling the record for most consecutive series wins by any team against a single opponent.
The West Indies, for their part, will rue missed opportunities but can take heart from the fighting spirit shown by their batsmen in the second innings. The likes of Hope and Campbell demonstrated that with application and resilience, they can compete at the highest level. The challenge now will be to build on these positives as they look ahead to future assignments.
The pitch in Delhi drew attention for its dry surface and lack of assistance for bowlers, particularly spinners. “This pitch has played a lot better than we expected. The footmarks are still there and I was looking for the little area on the pitch where a little bit of the leather came off the ball. You could see how abrasive it is,” observed Deep Dasgupta and Ian Bishop during their commentary stint.
For India, the immediate focus shifts to the upcoming ODI series as Gill leads the side Down Under. But for now, the team and their fans can savor a series that showcased the depth, talent, and determination of a side firmly on the rise. With the World Test Championship points at stake, this sweep gives India a timely boost as they set their sights on another shot at global glory.
As the sun set over the Arun Jaitley Stadium, India’s players took a lap of honor, basking in the applause of a packed house. The message was clear: this is a team hungry for more, and with leaders like Gill, Jadeja, and Rahul at the helm, the journey promises to be as exciting as ever.
