West Indies were 173/2 in their second innings of the second Test of the two-match series at the end of Day 3. John Campbell scored a career-best 87, marking his first half-century of the series. Shai Hope ended a 31-innings wait for a fifty. West Indies reached the second new ball for the first time this year. They recorded their highest partnership of 2025, an unbeaten 138-run stand between Campbell and Hope. Despite their efforts, West Indies still needed 97 runs to make India bat again.

Kuldeep Yadav Leads India’s Attack

India relied on Kuldeep Yadav to dominate on a slow Delhi pitch. He picked up his fifth five-wicket haul of the series, allowing India to enforce the follow-on. Yet, India struggled to finish the match quickly. They managed only four wickets in the last 75.2 overs, showing how stubborn West Indies had become.

Kuldeep started by dismissing Hope in the seventh over of the day. Earlier in the series, he had beaten Hope’s inside edge, but the pitch required extra skill. Kuldeep used drift to move the ball away from the batter and occasionally surprised the batters with sharper turn.

Tevin Imlach fell to an unusual delivery that spun sharply. Justin Greaves got out after attempting a reverse sweep and missing the ball entirely. Kuldeep struck again, taking precise wickets through bowled and lbw dismissals.

Fast Bowlers Add Pressure

At the other end, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj tried to target the front pad of West Indies batters. Jomel Warrican defended cautiously but ended up giving a full ball on to the stumps, allowing a fast-bowler wicket for the first time in the match.

By the time West Indies reached 175 for 8, their lower order began resisting. Khary Pierre and Anderson Phillip batted together for 16.5 overs, extending the innings past lunch. Bumrah returned to dismiss Pierre with reverse swing, while Kuldeep had to toil for his fifth wicket, including using the new ball. The last pair batted together for nine overs, showing the West Indies’ determination.

Enforcing the Follow-On

India’s decision to continue bowling after enforcing the follow-on came under scrutiny. They opened with Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja, with Bumrah coming back later after already bowling eight overs. India set fields that suggested they doubted the pitch offered enough help for quick wickets.

Even so, taking eight wickets in a single day on a flat Delhi pitch was a significant effort. Kuldeep’s clever use of drift, subtle turn, and accuracy in targeting the stumps earned him four of his five wickets via bowled or lbw.

Early Struggles for West Indies

West Indies lost two early wickets for just 35 runs. Siraj dismissed Tagenarine Chanderpaul on the pull shot for the second time in the series. Washington Sundar delivered the ball of the day by drifting it in from wide on the crease, then turning it away to bowl Alick Athanaze, one of West Indies’ in-form batters on the tour.

Campbell and Hope Fight Back

Shai Hope and John Campbell began to frustrate India’s bowlers. Campbell, who had been unlucky in the first innings with a freak catch, received some fortune this time. He survived two pad-before-bat chances when the umpire ruled in his favor.

With little pace in the pitch, the pair defended patiently while also taking calculated risks. Campbell attacked both Jadeja and Kuldeep early, hitting a six and a four in his first over to reach his fifty. Hope played with more finesse, using his touch play familiar from ODIs, though he also launched a slog-swept six off Washington.

West Indies Win a Session

India’s bowling began to show errors. Fielders misjudged catches, and bowlers misfielded off their own deliveries. The team even conceded a no-ball for having too many fielders behind square on the leg side. In the final overs, Yashasvi Jaiswal bowled gentle legbreaks, allowing West Indies to win a session for the first time in the series.

Despite India’s dominance on paper, the West Indies showed grit and resisted effectively, highlighting the challenge the visitors still face on a flat Delhi surface.

Brief Scorecard