New Delhi, Oct 11 (UNI) India declared a commanding first innings at 518 for 5, leaving the West Indies in disarray at 26 for 1 by tea on the second day of the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here today.
It was a day of authority, strokeplay, and relentless pressure from the hosts, as the visitors struggled to find rhythm against a confident Indian side.
Resuming from their overnight 318 for 2, India looked determined to build on their strong foundation. Yashasvi Jaiswal, already in sublime form, continued his masterclass, threading elegant drives and crisp boundaries through the covers.
The left-hander reached a breathtaking 175, decorated with 22 fours, before a calamitous run-out involving captain Shubman Gill cut short what looked like a certain double century. The miscommunication left the crowd gasping, a reminder of the cruel twists of Test cricket.
Gill, unruffled by the chaos, asserted full command of the innings. The Indian captain, subdued on Day 1, came alive with a repertoire of drives, cuts, and a thundering six over deep midwicket against Justin Greaves. He reached his fifty off 95 balls and went on to score a fluent 129 off 177 deliveries, including 13 fours and a six, bringing a sense of calm authority to the innings.
Young Nitish Kumar Reddy added spice with a lively 43 off 54 balls, featuring two towering sixes and four crisp boundaries. A reprieve on 20 when Anderson Phillip spilled a catch allowed Reddy to press on, putting West Indies bowlers under constant pressure before Jomel Warrican eventually dismissed him.
Dhruv Jurel, the wicketkeeper-batsman, provided crucial support with 44, forming a vital 100-run partnership with Gill for the fifth wicket, stabilizing the innings and nudging India past 500 with minimal fuss.
The West Indies, by contrast, looked beleaguered. Discipline in the field and bowling lapses proved costly, while the pitch offered true bounce that India exploited to the fullest. Seales and Warrican tried to extract pace and spin, but the visitors were unable to contain the relentless Indian run flow.
The West Indies reply began under immediate pressure. John Campbell fell to a freak catch by Sai Sudharsan off Jadeja, a dismissal that exemplified India’s alertness and the visitors’ misfortune.
Campbell had shown glimpses of attacking intent, including a clever paddle sweep for four, but the early wicket set the tone. Tevin Chanderpaul, unbeaten on 13, and Alick Athanaze, 2, looked to steady the innings, but it was clear India had seized the momentum.
By tea, the scoreboard read India 518 for 5 declared and West Indies 26 for 1 in 11 overs. The day had been a blend of patience, flair, and strategic dominance, with India’s batting showcasing elegance and power, their fielding sharp, and their bowling precise enough to keep the visitors under pressure.
India’s innings underlined the potency of their top order and the emerging promise of their young talent. Jaiswal’s flamboyance, Gill’s calm authority, Reddy’s fire, and Jurel’s composure combined to produce a commanding total, leaving the West Indies with a mountain to climb to avoid a first-innings deficit of epic proportions.
Scores:
India 1st innings – 518/5 declared (Shubman Gill 129*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 175, Dhruv Jurel 44, K Nitish Kumar Reddy 43)
West Indies 1st innings – 26/1 in 11 overs (T Chanderpaul 13, A Athanaze 2)
