Overview: India extend commanding start in the 2nd Test
India have stretched their advantage in the ongoing 2nd Test against West Indies at Kotla, Delhi, after a day of dominant batting. Yashasvi Jaiswal reached a scintillating 150 off 224 balls, guiding India to 290/2 in 82 overs by late afternoon. Alongside KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan, the hosts looked in complete control, leaving West Indies’ bowlers and fielding unit chasing answers on a surface that offered help early but flattened as the day wore on.
Jaiswal’s monumental 150 and a fluent start for India
Jaiswal’s 150 is a reminder of his consistency in the longer format. He has now surpassed 150 for the fifth time in his Test career and owns seven centuries, with only two of those coming in below 150. His patient start, followed by a late surge after lunch, anchored India’s first-innings foundation. The left-hander’s ability to convert pressure into stroke play has been evident, and his partnership with Sudharsan has been one of the highlights of the day.
Key partnerships and the evolving innings
The stand between Jaiswal and Shubman Gill initially gave India a rapid platform, and when Gill contributed a steady 1st-innings approach, Sudharsan’s half-century further buoyed the innings. Sudharsan’s form has been notable; his shift from a cautious start to an attacking cameo in certain spells showed his adaptability. By tea, India were 220/1, with the bankable tone set by Jaiswal and Rahul before the stumps, and Gill already at the crease to continue the momentum.
West Indies’ bowling and fielding: early rewards but not enough
West Indies looked to strike with the new ball, with Anderson Phillip and Jayden Seales spearheading the attack. Although India’s openers weathered the early movement, the visitors did not manage to break the crucial stand. The pitch at Kotla presented a two-faced nature early: seam movement first, then a flatter surface as the day progressed. While Seales showed glimpses of pace and bounce and Warrican spun the ball nicely on occasion, India found it comfortable to play the spinners and rotate strike to build pressure.
Drinks, tea, and the state of play
During the session breaks, comments from commentators highlighted India’s advantage in patience and intent. The fielding side’s body language will be under the scanner, as they aim to frustrate the batters and seize a chance when it arises. The day’s narrative is simple: India’s batters have dominated most of the overs, and the West Indies would be hoping for a breakthrough in the next session to derail the momentum.
What to watch on Day 2
Key questions heading into Day 2 include how long India will bat before declaring or pushing toward a daunting first-innings total, and whether West Indies can land early wickets to set a new tone. Jaiswal’s hundred-turned-150 marks a personal milestone, but India will want to capitalise with big runs on a Kotla pitch that has shown two halves in quick succession. Watch for the rhythm in Jaiswal’s approach, Sudharsan’s evolving strokeplay, and the visitors’ plans to tighten up and pressure the crease in the morning session.
Team news and playing XI snapshot
West Indies (Playing XI): John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Roston Chase (c), Tevin Imlach (w), Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Khary Pierre, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales. India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
