The Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi bore witness to a historic chapter in Indian cricket as Shubman Gill’s men clinched a comprehensive seven-wicket win over the West Indies in the second Test, sealing a 2-0 clean sweep of the series on October 14, 2025. For Gill, this victory was more than just another notch in the win column—it was his first Test series triumph as captain, a mantle he’s worn across all three international formats in recent months.
India resumed Day 5 with the finish line in sight, needing just 58 runs to reach their modest target of 121. KL Rahul, ever the picture of composure, anchored the chase with an unbeaten 58, guiding India home in just over an hour’s play. Sai Sudharsan contributed a steady 39 before falling to Roston Chase, who also claimed the wicket of captain Gill for 13. Dhruv Jurel chipped in with six not out as India finished at 124-3 in 35.2 overs, with the crowd’s anticipation turning to celebration the moment the winning runs were struck.
This win was not just about the present—it was a testament to India’s enduring dominance at home and the relentless consistency that has defined their cricket in recent years. The Arun Jaitley Stadium now stands as an even more formidable fortress, with India extending their unbeaten run at the venue to a record 14 matches, surpassing previous streaks at Mohali and Brabourne Stadium (Mumbai).
“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,” Gill remarked after the match, his words reflecting both humility and a growing sense of command.
The West Indies, for their part, showed remarkable grit in the face of adversity. After being dismissed for 248 in their first innings—a daunting 270 runs short of India’s imposing 518-5 declared—they were asked to follow on. But the Caribbean side mounted a spirited resistance, powered by Shai Hope’s first Test century in eight years and John Campbell’s maiden ton, a gritty 115. Their efforts saw the visitors reach 390 in the second innings, forcing India to bat again—a rare occurrence, as this was only the fourth time since 1961 that India had to chase after enforcing the follow-on.
Chase, the West Indies skipper, was candid in his assessment: “Campbell and Hope played very well for us. They fought for us, we batted 100 overs after a long time – taking the game to the fifth day was a positive. The guys we have here are the best players in the Caribbean. So we have to use this test as a stepping stone for the next series.”
India’s first-innings dominance was built on the back of stellar performances from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hammered a commanding 175, and Gill himself, whose unbeaten 129 underscored his ability to lead from the front. The bowling honors belonged to Kuldeep Yadav, whose eight wickets for 186 runs across both innings earned him the player of the match award. “It was a totally different wicket to Ahmedabad. Bowling a lot of overs was challenging here – there wasn’t any drift and the wicket was too dry. So it was a very different challenge,” Kuldeep reflected, highlighting the adaptability required at the highest level.
Yet, not everything was straightforward for the hosts. The decision to enforce the follow-on drew mixed reactions, with some critics—including former players—questioning the wisdom of making the bowlers toil again on a pitch that offered little assistance. Even so, Gill stood by his call, explaining, “We were around 300 runs ahead and the wicket was quite dead. We thought even if we scored 500 runs, we have to get six or seven wickets on Day Five. That would have been a tough day for us.”
Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach and a former Delhi stalwart, didn’t mince words about the pitch: “We could have had a better wicket here. We did get the result on Day Five but again, the nicks need to carry. There has to be something for the fast bowlers as well. I know we keep talking about spinners playing an important role but when you’ve got probably two quality fast bowlers in the ranks, you want them to be in the game as well.”
Gambhir’s influence on the team’s preparation has been evident. He lauded the squad’s professionalism and commitment to playing ‘India A’ matches and domestic Ranji Trophy games as part of their build-up, especially with a packed schedule looming. “Preparation is something this group of players have done exceptionally well. It is difficult but that is what professionalism is all about—try and use the days to the best of their ability, because we know there are very quick turnarounds from here to ODIs, then T20, and after only four days, back to Test cricket,” Gambhir noted.
The result not only erased memories of last year’s home defeat to New Zealand but also narrowed the gap with Sri Lanka in the World Test Championship standings, with India bagging 24 crucial points. Perhaps most impressively, Gill’s personal numbers continue to dazzle: with 946 runs in his first 13 Test innings as captain, he trails only Don Bradman’s legendary tally of 1,125, and joins Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar as the only players to notch five centuries in that period. Four wins from seven Tests as captain—including three on the road in England—suggest he’s more than up for the challenge.
Gill’s leadership, however, is set to be tested even further. India’s itinerary offers no respite: an ODI series in Australia is up next, featuring the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli under Gill’s command, followed by T20Is against the same opposition, and then a full series against South Africa at home, including two Tests. The cricketing calendar, packed to the brim, has prompted concerns about player fatigue—not least from Gill himself, who admitted, “That was new for me. Going back to the basics of a particular format is something that works for me.”
For now, though, there’s little time to dwell on the what-ifs. India’s 10th consecutive Test series win against the West Indies is a testament to their depth, resilience, and the steady hand of a new captain finding his voice. As the team jets off to Australia’s bouncier pitches, all eyes will be on Gill and his charges to see if they can carry this momentum to even greater heights.
