New Delhi, Oct 14 (UNI) India defeated West Indies by 7 wickets in the second Test at Arun Jaitley Stadium, securing a 2-0 series win and earning 12 crucial points in the World Test Championship today. This marks India’s first Test series victory under the captaincy of Shubman Gill.
India chased a modest target of 121 with ease, finishing at 124 for 3 in 35.2 overs on Day 5. KL Rahul led the charge with an unbeaten 58 off 108 balls, while B Sai Sudharsan contributed 39.
Captain Shubman Gill added 13 before being caught by Justin Greaves off Roston Chase. Dhruv Jurel opened his account with a boundary and showed growing confidence in the middle order. Aggressive strokes from Rahul and Gill, including towering sixes and crisp boundaries, ensured India crossed the line with seven wickets in hand.
Earlier, India had posted a massive first innings total of 518 for 5, with significant contributions from KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. West Indies responded with 248 in their first innings and following on made 390 in the second, showing improved resilience compared to their Ahmedabad performance, but ultimately fell short.
Kuldeep Yadav claimed eight wickets across the match and was named Player of the Match, while Ravindra Jadeja earned the Player of the Series accolade for his allround impact.
Gill said, “It’s a really big honour. Managing all the players, leading this team, and making the right decisions in a given situation is what matters. Sometimes you have to take bold decisions depending on which player can get you runs or wickets.”
He explained the team’s approach to enforcing the follow-on and giving opportunities to players like Nitish Reddy to groom them for future overseas tours.
Jadeja said, “I focus on contributing with both bat and ball to help my team win. This is my third Man of the Series award, and I’m very happy to bring it back home. Batting at number six allows me to spend more time in the middle and think as a proper batsman.”
Kuldeep Yadav added, “Bowling long spells and getting breakthroughs is something I enjoy. It was a challenging wicket, and having Jadeja’s guidance makes a huge difference.”
West Indies captain Roston Chase reflected on positives, noting that John Campbell and Shai Hope batted well and that taking the game to the fifth day was encouraging.
Sudharsan expressed enthusiasm about learning from senior players and performing in crucial positions.
Statistically, this marks the West Indies’ second consecutive series loss under Chase captaincy, extending their streak of consecutive defeats against India in India to seven. India, meanwhile, have achieved ten consecutive Test series wins against West Indies since 2002.
India’s dominance in home conditions was evident throughout. While Delhi saw a more spirited West Indies display, batting over 200 overs across two innings, India’s batting depth and bowling precision proved decisive.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s century on Day 1 and Shubman Gill’s impressive ton set the foundation, while Rahul’s finishing ensured a smooth chase. Kuldeep, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammad Siraj ran through the opposition with accuracy and control.
The team now shifts focus to India’s tour of Australia for three ODIs and five T20Is, followed by South Africa’s tour of India with two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is. The anticipated return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will add to the excitement for fans.
Celebrations followed as Gill lifted the trophy, with the Indian team posing proudly for photos. It was a display of teamwork, resilience, and strategic planning, highlighting why India remains a formidable force in home conditions.
