India look to seize control as Day 4 resumes
In a gripping twist to the 2nd Test, India’s spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja took the ball early after tea, aiming to stall West Indies’ closing lead. WI’s resistance around 360-9 at tea looked sturdy, with Shai Hope and Roston Chase providing the backbone to a stubborn West Indian innings. Yet the morning session brought renewed energy for India, who needed wickets to tilt the balance firmly in their favour.
WI add to the lead, Seales and Greaves hold fort
West Indies extended their advantage to just under a hundred as Justin Greaves and Jayden Seales combined for important partnerships. Seales remained unbeaten on 18-19, while Greaves climbed into the 30s, frustrating India’s bowlers and endearing themselves to a partisan crowd in Delhi. A late push for a sizeable total looked likely, with Seales striking a boundary off Jadeja and Greaves showing his intent with lofted strokes.
Spin at both ends as India seek breakthroughs
Kuldeep Yadav briefly turned the tide by removing a key partner, but WI’s last-wicket pair added crucial runs to extend the lead. Jadeja was entrusted with the other end, keeping the ball tight and asking questions of the tail. India’s fielding remained alert, yet the discipline of WI’s last-standers kept them out of trouble for an extended period.
Chase’s rearguard and Hope’s celebration
The reads on the scoreboard shifted as Roston Chase and Shai Hope stitched together a fightback. Hope’s hundred—his third in Tests—was a landmark moment eight years after his twin tons against England, underscoring his tenacity against spin and pace alike. The hundred came with elegance, as Hope rode a sequence of soft hands to guide the innings past the 100-run mark, much to WI’s relief and India’s chagrin.
India’s bowling calls and field adjustments
With Siraj and Bumrah sharing new-ball duties, India experimented with line and length to curb the Windies’ progress. Debates over Indian selection choices—such as rotations of the bowling unit and the allocation of duties—circulated in the stands and media. Gill and the rest of the batting lineup watched intently as the session progressed, hoping to strike a balance between aggression and containment.
What to watch for in the final session
As the day moves towards its close, the equation is: India need quick breakthroughs to deny WI a substantial lead, while WI push to set up a formidable total. The weathered duel between spin and resilience will decide if India can enforce a challenging chase or if WI will bat with confidence on a surface offering something for the bowlers. The key narrative: can Kuldeep Yadav and Jadeja dismantle the tail and swing momentum back in India’s favour?
Bottom line
West Indies lead India by a slim margin, with searing battles at both ends defining Day 4. The stage is set for an intense finish, where India’s bowlers will need precision and patience, and WI’s batters will seek to convert a promising start into a defendable total.
