India stayed firmly on track for a 2-0 series sweep after enforcing the follow-on, but West Indies mounted a spirited fightback in their second innings, reaching 173 for 2 on day three of the second and final Test on Sunday.
After being crushed inside three days in the series opener in Ahmedabad, the visitors were dismissed for 248 in their first innings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, conceding a massive 270-run lead.
In their second outing, however, the West Indies batsmen showed far greater resolve. Opener John Campbell, unbeaten on 87, demonstrated that neither the pitch nor India’s bowling attack was invincible. Shai Hope, batting on 66 at stumps, shared a solid stand as the tourists—still trailing by 97 runs—looked determined to avoid another innings defeat.
India had been in control from the start, piling up 518 for 5 before declaring their first innings on Saturday. When play resumed on day three, Kuldeep Yadav (5 for 82) ran through the West Indies’ middle order after they began at 140 for 4.
Hope (36) looked to anchor the innings, but Kuldeep triggered a collapse after a brief period of resistance—bowling Hope and trapping Tevin Imlach and Justin Greaves leg-before in quick succession. Mohammed Siraj then removed Jomel Warrican, though Khary Pierre (23) and Anderson Phillip (24 not out) fought hard to add some valuable runs. Jasprit Bumrah eventually bowled Pierre to end the innings, with Ravindra Jadeja contributing figures of 3 for 46.
Forced to follow on, the visitors lost Tagenarine Chanderpaul (10) early, caught brilliantly by captain Shubman Gill off Siraj at short midwicket. Washington Sundar then bowled Alick Athanaze (7) with the last delivery before tea, tightening India’s grip.
However, Campbell and Hope steadied the ship with an unbroken 138-run partnership, confidently taking on the Indian spinners. Campbell, surviving three reviews, brought up the first half-century by a visiting batter in the match before Hope followed suit, keeping West Indies’ hopes alive heading into day four.
