West Indies Faces Significant Deficit Against India

At the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, Ravindra Jadeja’s impressive three-wicket performance put the West Indies in a difficult position on the second day of their second Test match. India’s dominance was clear as the day concluded.

The West Indies ended the day at 140/4, trailing India by a substantial 378 runs. Shai Hope and Tevin Imlach were the batsmen at the crease, tasked with a significant challenge.

India’s first innings saw them resume from a solid 318/2, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had reached a century overnight, and Shubman Gill.

However, India’s batting momentum faltered early as Jaiswal was run out on the eighth ball of the day. His impressive innings concluded at 175 runs from 373 balls, featuring 22 boundaries, making him the top scorer.

Despite Jaiswal’s exit, Gill, along with Nitish Kumar Reddy, steadied the innings, keeping the West Indies bowlers at bay.

Gill and Reddy forged a productive 91-run partnership for the fourth wicket, before Reddy was dismissed by Jomel Warrican just before the lunch interval. Reddy contributed 43 runs off 54 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes.

Subsequently, Gill partnered with wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, propelling India past the 500-run milestone with a 102-run stand, during which Gill achieved his 10th Test century.

The partnership ended with Jurel’s dismissal off Roston Chase in the second session, leading to India’s declaration at 518/5 in 134.2 overs.

Gill remained unbeaten with a score of 129 from 260 deliveries, hitting 16 boundaries and two sixes. Jurel added 44 runs from 79 balls.

Warrican emerged as the leading bowler for the West Indies, claiming three wickets for 98 runs in 34 overs, while Chase took one wicket.

The West Indies’ response saw them reach 140/4 in 43 overs by the end of the day’s play.

The West Indies faced an early setback as Jadeja removed opener John Campbell (10) in the eighth over, with the score at 21.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze then initiated a recovery, adding 66 runs for the second wicket. However, their quick dismissals put the West Indies on the defensive.

Athanaze was the top scorer for the visitors with 41 runs from 84 balls, while Chanderpaul scored 34 from 67 balls, including four boundaries and a six.

Jadeja further compounded the West Indies’ problems by dismissing Chase, caught and bowled, reducing them to 107/4 before Hope and Imlach stemmed the flow of wickets.

The two batsmen will continue the West Indies’ innings on the third day, facing a significant task to avoid a follow-on situation.

Jadeja stood out as India’s most effective bowler, securing three wickets for 37 runs in 14 overs. Kuldeep Yadav also contributed with one wicket.