The Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi was buzzing with anticipation as the second Test between India and West Indies unfolded on October 11, 2025. With India already leading the two-match series 1-0 after a dominant victory in Ahmedabad, all eyes were on the hosts to see if they could maintain their stranglehold. And what a show they put on!
Day 2 began with India in a commanding position, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dazzling performance on Day 1. The young opener, who had already racked up his seventh Test century, was unbeaten on 173 as the stumps were drawn the previous evening. Hopes were high that Jaiswal might convert his innings into a third double century, which would have made him the youngest Indian batter to achieve the feat three times. But cricket, as ever, is a game of glorious uncertainties.
The morning session brought drama right away. On just the eighth ball, a mix-up between Jaiswal and his partner, captain Shubman Gill, led to a disastrous run out. Jaiswal set off for a run, but Gill turned him back too late, and a sharp throw from Tagenarine Chanderpaul caught Jaiswal well short of his crease. That ended Jaiswal’s brilliant knock at 175 off 258 balls, which included 22 boundaries. As the crowd groaned in disbelief, Jaiswal trudged off, missing out on what could have been a historic double ton. "It was a good contribution, good partnership between me and Jaiswal. Hopefully, we'll have longer partnerships and get a big score," Jaiswal had reflected after Day 1, perhaps not knowing just how soon his innings would be cut short.
India didn’t let the setback rattle them. Shubman Gill, undeterred by the morning’s mishap, dug in for a captain’s knock. At lunch, he was unbeaten on 75, with Dhruv Jurel keeping him company. Nitish Reddy, who joined Gill after the loss of Jaiswal, played a brisk hand with 43 off 54 balls before falling to spinner Jomel Warrican. The Indian innings, peppered with aggressive strokeplay and solid partnerships, continued to pile on the runs.
The afternoon brought more milestones. Shubman Gill, batting with purpose and poise, reached his first Test century at home as captain—a significant achievement for the young leader. He brought up the landmark in 177 balls, and by the time India declared their innings at 518/5, Gill was unbeaten on 129. This was his 10th Test century overall, and with it, he joined an elite club of Indian captains—matching the feat of scoring five Test hundreds in a calendar year, a record previously held by Virat Kohli in 2017 and 2018.
Dhruv Jurel, meanwhile, contributed a valuable 44 before being bowled by West Indies skipper Roston Chase. The pair’s 100-run stand underscored India’s batting depth and ability to dominate in home conditions. Sai Sudharsan (87) and KL Rahul (38) also chipped in earlier, with Sudharsan’s effort at No. 3 further solidifying his place in the side. Rahul, with his knock, joined the select group of Indian batters who have scored 2,000 runs in World Test Championship matches—a testament to his consistency on the big stage.
As India declared, setting a mammoth 518-run target, the question was clear: could West Indies muster a response, or would the hosts steamroll them once more?
West Indies’ reply started cautiously. Openers John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul faced a daunting task against India’s fiery attack. Jasprit Bumrah opened proceedings with a maiden over, but it was Ravindra Jadeja who struck first, dismissing Campbell for 10 after a freak catch by Sai Sudharsan at short leg. Sudharsan, unfortunately, had to leave the field soon after with a wrist injury, replaced by Devdutt Padikkal.
Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze then steadied the ship, putting together a gritty 66-run partnership—the first 50-run stand by a West Indies pair in this series. Athanaze, in particular, played some delightful shots, including boundaries and a maximum off Kuldeep Yadav. Yet, just as the visitors looked to gain momentum, Jadeja struck again, removing Chanderpaul for 34 with a sharp catch by KL Rahul at slip.
The wickets kept tumbling. Kuldeep Yadav joined the party, dismissing Athanaze for 41 with a well-flighted delivery that found Jadeja at mid-wicket. Jadeja, relentless as ever, claimed his third wicket by sending West Indies captain Roston Chase back for a duck, caught and bowled in dramatic fashion. By stumps, West Indies were 140/4, still trailing India by a daunting 378 runs.
Despite losing wickets, West Indies showed more resolve than in the first Test and even earlier in this match. Tevin Imlach and Shai Hope were at the crease at stumps, trying to rebuild and keep their side in the contest. The visitors will need a herculean effort to avoid the follow-on and make a match of it on Day 3.
India’s dominance was evident not just in the scoreboard but in their approach. The bowlers hunted in packs, and the fielders backed them up with energy. Jadeja, the pick of the attack with three wickets, exploited the dry, worn surface expertly, while Kuldeep and the seamers kept the pressure on. Former player Daren Ganga’s pitch report had predicted spinners would play a key role, and so it proved.
On the batting front, Anil Kumble’s praise for Jaiswal seemed well-earned: "Jaiswal is just getting better and better day by day. We’ve spoken about his hunger and his attitude toward building big innings, not just for himself but for the team." The same could be said for Gill, whose leadership and batting prowess have given India a steady hand at the helm.
With India in firm control and West Indies facing an uphill battle, the third day promises more action. Can the visitors find inspiration and mount a comeback, or will India’s bowlers tighten the screws further? The series remains India’s to lose, but as the game of cricket shows time and again, surprises can never be ruled out.
As the sun set on Day 2, the stage was set for another gripping chapter in this one-sided but fiercely contested series. West Indies have their work cut out, while India will look to press home their advantage and seal the series in style.
