John Campbell’s magnificent unbeaten 87 and Shai Hope’s solid 66 became the cornerstone of a spirited West Indies fightback on day three of the second Test in New Delhi. After facing the ignominy of a follow-on, their formidable 138-run unbroken partnership saw the West Indies close the day at 173 for two. While still trailing India by 97 runs, their stand offered a vital glimmer of hope against an otherwise dominant Indian side.
Earlier, spin maestro Kuldeep Yadav had ripped through the West Indies’ first innings, securing his fifth five-wicket haul in Test cricket with figures of 5/82. The visitors, who began the day at a precarious 140 for 4, were eventually bundled out for just 248.
These half-centuries by Campbell and Hope stood out as the only fifty-plus scores by any West Indies batsman in the series to date. Their defiant, counter-attacking play, even with India’s victory seemingly inevitable, offered a much-needed morale boost as they look ahead to their upcoming tour of New Zealand.
The day’s play commenced with Kuldeep delivering a moment of magic. He dismissed Hope for 36 in the first innings with a breathtaking delivery – a quicker ball, angled with significant drift, that exquisitely beat Hope’s outside edge and clattered into the off-stump.
Hope’s departure triggered a rapid collapse in the West Indies’ first innings. Tevin Imlach was soon trapped leg-before for 21, and Justin Greaves, attempting an aggressive reverse sweep, also fell cheaply for 17.
Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah then efficiently mopped up the remaining wickets. Kharry Pierre (23) and Anderson Phillip (24) did manage to stitch together a resilient 46-run partnership for the ninth wicket, adding a few crucial runs.
When forced to follow on, West Indies initially found themselves struggling once more, reaching just 35 for 2 by tea. However, a strategic shift saw Campbell adopt a more aggressive stance, particularly against the Indian spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep.
The pitch, though occasionally keeping low, hadn’t significantly deteriorated, which made batting a more manageable task. Encouraged by Campbell’s attacking intent, Hope also found his rhythm, and together they skillfully neutralized the threat posed by India’s spinners.
As boundaries began to flow freely, Indian captain Shubman Gill was compelled to adjust his field, employing an ‘in-out’ strategy. This defensive approach, with Kuldeep having fielders at long-on, deep extra cover, and deep square leg, marked a stark contrast to his earlier, dominant performance.
The surface offered minimal natural assistance to the spinners, forcing them to put extra ‘shoulder’ into their deliveries to generate any zip. After a grueling 81.5 overs, visible signs of fatigue began to creep into their bowling.
Hope’s innings was punctuated by eight fours and two towering sixes, complementing Campbell’s nine boundaries and two sixes. This impressive display has instilled confidence in Head Coach Darren Sammy, suggesting that certain players still possess the ability to perform effectively at this demanding level.
The West Indies batsmen exhibited newfound confidence, playing assuredly off the back foot against the spinners. This significant improvement in their second innings batting indicates promising potential for more impactful performances in upcoming fixtures.
Kuldeep’s brilliant five-wicket haul in the first innings, achieved in just his 15th Test match, further solidifies his impressive record of taking a five-wicket haul roughly every three games. This remarkable consistency firmly challenges any notion that he is merely a conditions-dependent bowler.
Earlier in the first innings, Hope and Imlach had initially navigated Jasprit Bumrah’s pace with relative ease and even managed to score some boundaries against Kuldeep. However, Hope’s stunning dismissal to Kuldeep’s superb delivery triggered a dramatic collapse, as West Indies lost four wickets for very few runs in just seven overs, plummeting to 175 for 8.