India’s Ravindra Jadeja celebrates with captain Shubman Gill after taking the wicket of West Indies’ Roston Chase.
NEW DELHI: India’s spinners asserted their dominance over the West Indies in the second Test, building on captain Shubman Gill’s magnificent century on Saturday. The West Indies concluded the day at 140-4, still trailing India by a substantial 378 runs at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the star with the ball, claiming three crucial wickets. Shai Hope (31) and Tevin Imlach (14) remained at the crease at stumps, fighting to keep their team in the game.
Earlier, Gill led from the front with an unbeaten 129, marking his fifth century of the year in eight Test matches. His stellar performance followed the early dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal for 175 on the second day.
The West Indies’ reply to India’s formidable declared total of 518-5 saw brief resistance from Tagenarine Chanderpaul (34) and Alick Athanaze (41) before their wickets fell. Jadeja trapped Chanderpaul at slip, and Kuldeep Yadav soon dismissed Athanaze. Roston Chase then departed for a duck in the very next over, again to the brilliance of Jadeja.
Shai Hope managed to stay on after a close lbw appeal was unsuccessfully reviewed by India. John Campbell’s short innings of 10 runs ended remarkably when Sai Sudharsan took an incredible catch at forward short-leg, using his helmet, chest, and hands as he ducked for cover.
Gill, who began the day on 20, showcased his superb batting prowess, hitting 16 fours and two sixes en route to his tenth Test century. He brought up his hundred with three runs off Khary Pierre’s bowling.
A crucial 102-run partnership blossomed between Gill and Dhruv Jurel, who contributed 44 runs. Their rapid scoring after lunch intensified the pressure on the West Indies attack.
The day had started with Jaiswal’s unfortunate run-out at 175, adding just two runs to his overnight score due to a miscommunication with Gill while attempting a quick single to mid-off.
Maintaining his calm under pressure, Gill then forged a 91-run partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored 43 before being dismissed by Jomel Warrican’s bowling.
India now holds a commanding position to secure the two-match series, having already won the first Test by an innings.