Delhi, October 12, 2025 – The second Test between India and West Indies at Delhi took an intriguing turn on Day 3, as the visitors staged a gritty fightback to delay India victory charge. At stumps, West Indies were 173 for 2 in their second innings, still trailing by 97 runs and needing that many to avoid an innings defeat against India.
The day began with India firmly in control. Resuming at 140 for 4, West Indies soon collapsed to 175 for 8 as India’s spinners tightened the screws. Kuldeep Yadav, the star for India, bagged his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests, using his variations beautifully to dismantle the middle order. Mohammad Siraj chipped in with a wicket, and the hosts appeared on course for another quick finish.
However, resistance came from the lower order as Khary Pierre and Anderson Phillip added 47 valuable runs, frustrating India’s plans. Once the tail was wrapped up for 248, India enforced the follow-on without hesitation, confident of wrapping up the Test on the same day.
But West Indies had other ideas. Their openers began cautiously, and although Siraj and Washington Sundar removed Chanderpaul and Athanaze, a magnificent partnership blossomed between Shai Hope and John Campbell. The duo added an unbeaten 138-run stand, the highest for West Indies in the series. Hope’s fluent 64 and Campbell’s composed 87 not out helped them weather India’s spin threat.
Kuldeep and Sundar toiled hard, but India’s bowlers couldn’t find breakthroughs as the pitch slowed down and offered little turn late in the day. Still, India remain favourites to seal the win on Day 4. West Indies, though, have shown heart, proving that India will have to earn every wicket if they wish to wrap up the series.