With the Arun Jaitley Stadium bathed in the golden glow of a Delhi sunset, India finds itself on the brink of yet another historic Test series sweep against the West Indies. As stumps were drawn on day four of the second Test, the hosts stood at 63-1 in their second innings, needing just 58 more runs to seal a 2-0 series victory. Lokesh Rahul, unbeaten on 25, and Sai Sudharsan, confidently poised on 30 from 47 balls with five boundaries, have steadied India’s chase after an early jolt. The stadium buzzes with anticipation as fans eagerly await the final day’s play, with India tantalizingly close to extending their dominance over the Caribbean side.
The day’s play was a tale of grit, resilience, and eventual collapse—a script that Test cricket seems to relish. West Indies, forced to follow on after conceding a massive 270-run lead, showed remarkable fight in their second innings. Shai Hope, who had endured a staggering 58 innings since his last Test century, finally broke the shackles. His patient 103 off 214 balls, laced with 12 crisp fours and two elegant sixes, was a masterclass in temperament and timing. At the other end, John Campbell, the left-handed opener, played the innings of his life. Bringing up his maiden Test hundred in his 50th innings, Campbell’s 115 off 199 balls included a dozen boundaries and three towering sixes, one of which brought up his milestone in style off Ravindra Jadeja.
The pair’s 177-run partnership for the third wicket was the backbone of West Indies’ resistance. By lunch, they had whittled India’s lead down to just 18 runs. The visitors, who began the day at 173-2, looked set to force India into an uncomfortable chase. But as is often the case in Test cricket, one wicket can change everything. Just before lunch, Jadeja trapped Campbell lbw with a quicker delivery. Campbell, after a brief consultation with Hope, sent the decision upstairs, but UltraEdge and ball-tracking confirmed his fate. He walked back to a standing ovation from his teammates, his head held high after a truly fighting knock.
Hope soldiered on past his century, but India’s bowlers, sensing an opening, pounced soon after. Mohammed Siraj, who had been probing all morning, finally breached Hope’s defenses with a back-of-a-length ball that kept low and rattled the stumps. Siraj’s celebratory ‘Siuu CR7’ echoed the relief and joy in the Indian camp. With Hope gone for 103 and West Indies at 271-4, the tide had begun to turn.
The post-lunch session brought further drama. Tevin Imlach tried to counterattack, smashing Kuldeep Yadav for a six and a four in the same over, but Kuldeep had the last laugh, trapping him lbw for 12. The left-arm wrist spinner wasn’t done—he dismissed Roston Chase for 40 and Khary Pierre for a duck in the same over, sparking a collapse from 293-5 to 298-7. Kuldeep’s artistry, flight, and subtle variations proved too much for the lower order. He finished the match with eight wickets and took his tally to 12 for the series, underlining his growing stature as a match-winner for India.
Yet, the West Indies tail was not ready to roll over. Justin Greaves and Jayden Seales dug in for a stubborn 79-run partnership for the last wicket, lasting 22 overs and frustrating the Indian bowlers and fielders alike. Greaves brought up a gritty half-century, while Seales contributed a valuable 32, even launching Jadeja for a stunning six over deep midwicket. As the partnership grew, so did the tension in the stands. The lead stretched to 120, and for a fleeting moment, the prospect of a tricky chase loomed for the hosts.
But Jasprit Bumrah, ever the man for the big moment, returned to wrap up the innings. His figures of 3-44 were a testament to his relentless accuracy and ability to strike at crucial junctures. West Indies were finally bowled out for 390, setting India a target of 121 to win.
Chasing a modest total can sometimes be trickier than it appears, especially with the weight of expectation and the vagaries of a wearing fifth-day pitch. India’s chase began with a flourish but soon hit a speed bump. Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young opener who had earlier dazzled with a majestic 175 in the first innings, fell for just 8. Jomel Warrican, the left-arm spinner, tempted Jaiswal into a lofted drive, and Anderson Phillip took a comfortable catch at long-on. The early wicket gave the West Indies a glimmer of hope, but Rahul and Sudharsan quickly doused any thoughts of a collapse. Rahul’s control and timing, coupled with Sudharsan’s wristy elegance—evident in his five boundaries—ensured India ended the day on a solid note.
It’s worth noting the rarity of India being forced to bat again after enforcing the follow-on. This was only the fourth such instance since 1961, a testament to the fight shown by the West Indies in their second innings. The visitors’ resilience was further highlighted by the fact that this was the first time in 11 Tests they had avoided an innings defeat after being made to follow on. The last time they managed such a feat was in Dunedin against New Zealand in 2013.
For the West Indies, the centuries from Hope and Campbell were bright spots in an otherwise challenging tour. Campbell’s hundred was particularly significant—it was the first by a West Indies opener against India since Daren Ganga’s 135 in 2006, and the first in India since Wavell Hinds in 2002. Hope’s return to three figures after eight long years will surely boost his confidence and perhaps signal a renaissance for the stylish right-hander.
India, meanwhile, continues to assert its dominance over the Caribbean side. The West Indies have not beaten India in their last 26 Tests, home or away, a streak stretching all the way back to 2002. Having already won the first Test in Ahmedabad by an innings and 40 runs, the hosts are on the verge of yet another series whitewash.
As the teams prepare for the final day, all eyes will be on Rahul and Sudharsan. Can they steer India home without further drama? Or will the West Indies bowlers conjure up some last-day magic? With just 58 runs separating India from victory and a series sweep, the stage is set for a thrilling finish in Delhi. Whatever happens, this Test has already delivered a feast of cricketing drama, resilience, and skill—a fitting advertisement for the enduring allure of the longest format.
