What looked like a routine victory turned into a test of endurance for India on day four of the second Test against the West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Having been in the field for nearly 200 overs since midway through day two, India were made to toil hard before closing at 63/1 in 18 overs, needing just 58 more runs for a 2-0 series win.
B Sai Sudharsan (30*) and KL Rahul (25*) steadied the innings after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s early dismissal, ensuring India finished the day in control, though the road to that position was anything but smooth.
Campbell and Hope Lead West Indies’ Revival
Resuming their second innings after lunch on day three, West Indies were 35/2 when Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze fell cheaply. But John Campbell and Shai Hope staged a stirring revival, batting India out of rhythm with a superb 177-run third-wicket partnership.
Campbell’s 115 — his maiden Test century, brought up with a towering slog-sweep for six off Ravindra Jadeja — was the highlight of a defiant stand. Hope, too, ended an eight-year wait for a Test hundred, scoring a composed 103 that anchored the innings deep into day four.
Campbell and Hope played really well. They took their chances and were very sensible once the field spread out. The conversation for us was to stay patient and keep bowling good deliveries. That’s what was required.
Lower Order Adds Frustration for India
From 293/4, West Indies slipped to 311/9, but Justin Greaves (50) and Jayden Seales (32)* defied India’s attack for 25.2 overs, adding 79 for the last wicket — their side’s second-best partnership of the year.
It was heartening to see our bowlers take 20 wickets on a wicket like this. You just need to be patient and hit those areas consistently. The fast bowlers bowled their heart out.
Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav claimed three wickets each, while the latter followed up his first-innings five-for to finish with match figures of 8/186, continuing his fine run in home conditions.
A Lesson in Patience and Fitness
The flat, slow pitch in Delhi demanded physical and mental endurance from India’s bowlers. “We’ve got to be really fit and on top of our game in that aspect,” Sundar noted. “In Test cricket, you expect matches to go into the fifth day — it challenges you in every way possible.”
He also credited India’s experience from the earlier England series, where bowlers spent long periods in the field.
In England, we fielded for 180–200 overs every game. So this wasn’t new to us. A lot of fans might have liked it to finish today, but Jaiswal did his best — on another day, it would have been done.”
Rahul and Sudharsan Calm Nerves
Chasing 121 for victory, India made a quick start through Jaiswal’s boundaries before he fell trying to loft Jomel Warrican over long-on. Rahul and Sudharsan, however, were composed in approach, rotating the strike and putting away loose deliveries.
Sudharsan drove and flicked with authority, while Rahul’s deft wrists produced timely boundaries as India edged closer to the finish line. The duo will resume on day five, eyeing a comfortable win and a 2-0 series sweep.
West Indies Find Positives Despite Imminent Defeat
For West Indies, the fight on display was a welcome change. Campbell summed it up after scoring his first Test ton: “It’s a big positive for us. We didn’t get the best first-innings score, but to come back and bat over 100 overs in the second innings shows what we’re capable of.”
From being bowled out inside three days in Ahmedabad to taking the Delhi Test into day five, the visitors have rediscovered some of their long-lost resilience — even as India stand poised for another home triumph.
Brief Scores: India 518/5 dec and 63/1 in 18 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 30*, KL Rahul 25*; Jomel Warrican 1-15) West Indies 248 and 390 in 118.5 overs (John Campbell 115, Shai Hope 103; Jasprit Bumrah 3-44, Kuldeep Yadav 3-104) India need 58 runs to win.
