DELHI, India – Ravindra Jadeja delivered a decisive late burst to tilt the balance firmly in India’s favor, snaring three key wickets as West Indies faltered in the final session of the second day of the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
Chasing India’s imposing first-innings total of 518 for five declared, the visitors appeared steady at 106 for two, before a double blow from Jadeja and fellow left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav sent Alick Athanaze and Roston Chase back to the pavilion within eight balls. The West Indies ended the day 140 for four, still trailing by 378 runs and facing a daunting task to avoid the follow-on.
Hope and Imlach hold the fort
At the close, Shai Hope remained unbeaten on 31, while Tevin Imlach was on 14, the pair having weathered India’s late surge to add 33 unbroken runs. Their partnership will be critical when play resumes on Sunday, with the West Indies needing resilience to stay in contention.
India’s spinners found purchase early on a wearing pitch. Introduced after just eight overs, Jadeja struck immediately, unsettling the openers who had done well to blunt the new-ball duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
John Campbell, having swept Jadeja’s first delivery to the boundary, was dismissed in bizarre fashion when his next shot struck short-leg fielder Sai Sudharsan’s helmet grill, ballooning for a catch. He departed for 10, with West Indies on 21 for one.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze steadied the innings through a composed 66-run stand, steering their team safely to tea at 26 for one and then to 92 for two.
Athanaze’s flair, Chanderpaul’s grit
Athanaze looked confident against spin, dispatching Kuldeep Yadav for a four and a six in one over before driving him for two more boundaries. Chanderpaul joined the counterattack, striking Jadeja for consecutive fours.
He survived a close lbw call on 26 after reviewing successfully, but his luck ran out on 34 when he edged Jadeja to KL Rahul at slip, the fielder clinging to a juggling catch.
Hope, positive from the outset, punished both Bumrah and Jadeja with crisp boundaries. Together with Athanaze, he guided the Windies past 100 before calamity struck.
Collapse after promise
Nine runs short of what would have been a well-earned fifty, Athanaze miscued a Yadav delivery high to midwicket, where Jadeja completed the catch. Moments later, captain Roston Chase departed without scoring, attempting to flick Jadeja through the leg side only to send a return catch straight back to the bowler.
The quick double-strike left the Windies wobbling, but Hope and Imlach’s determined stand through the closing overs prevented further damage.
Gill anchors India’s mammoth total
Earlier in the day, India consolidated their dominance. Resuming on 318 for two, they piled on another 200 runs for three wickets before declaring just before tea.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, overnight on 173, was run out for 175 following a sharp piece of fielding by Chanderpaul. Captain Shubman Gill, starting on 20, took command thereafter, compiling a flawless 129 not out from 196 deliveries, decorated with 16 fours and two sixes — his 10th Test century.
Gill found solid support from Dhruv Jurel (44) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (43) as India pressed their advantage. Spinner Jomel Warrican emerged as the pick of the Windies bowlers, finishing with 3 for 98.
India in command
With Jadeja’s artistry complementing Gill’s class, India closed the second day with complete control of the contest. The West Indies now face the uphill battle of surviving India’s spin trio and bridging a yawning deficit — a challenge that will test both their technique and temperament.
