India declare at 518/5; West Indies trail by 378 at stumps

Digital Desk

Team India continued their dominance on Day 2 of the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, declaring at 518/5 before reducing West Indies to 140/4 at stumps. The visitors still trail by 378 runs. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers with 3/37, while Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with a wicket.

India’s mammoth first innings

Resuming from their overnight total, the pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill started solidly before Jaiswal was run out for 175 in the morning session following a mix-up with Gill.

From there, India’s captain took charge, guiding the innings with a composed 129 off 196 balls*, his 10th Test hundred and first at home as captain. Gill and wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel added a steady 102-run stand, before Jurel fell for 44 off Roston Chase. Gill then declared the innings after 134.2 overs with India at 518/5.

Jadeja strikes early as West Indies falter

In response, India opened with pace duo Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, but it was Ravindra Jadeja who made the breakthrough — dismissing John Campbell for 10, courtesy of a sharp catch by Sai Sudharsan at short leg.

Jadeja continued to trouble the batters, removing Tagenarine Chanderpaul (34) and captain Roston Chase (0) before stumps. Kuldeep Yadav added to the pressure, taking Alick Athanaze’s wicket for 41.

At the close of play, Shai Hope (31)* and Tevin Imlach (14)* held firm to take West Indies to 140/4 after 43 overs.

Gill’s historic century and Jaiswal’s heartbreak

Earlier in the day, Gill achieved several milestones:

Became India’s leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship (WTC).
Registered his 5th century as Test captain.
Surpassed Rohit Sharma for most Test hundreds by an Indian in WTC history.

Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal fell agonizingly short of his third double century, run out after a miscommunication with Gill. Reflecting on his innings, Jaiswal said:

“I always try to play long and take the game forward. The run-out was unfortunate but part of the game. The pitch is still good and we’re bowling well; hopefully, we can get them out quickly.”

Day 2 summary

India 1st Innings: 518/5 declared (Jaiswal 175, Gill 129*, Sudharsan 87, Jurel 44; Roston Chase 1/79)
West Indies 1st Innings: 140/4 (Chanderpaul 34, Athanaze 41, Hope 31*; Jadeja 3/37, Kuldeep 1/26)
Trail: West Indies by 378 runs