Shubman Gill once again led from the front — first with the bat and then with smart captaincy — as India tightened their grip over the second Test in Delhi. Gill’s unbeaten 129 powered India to 518/5 declared, before Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav spun a web around the West Indies, reducing them to 140/4 by stumps on Day 2.
Gill’s Masterclass: Team Over Personal Milestones
Gill reached his 10th Test century early in the post-lunch session but chose to declare the innings just an hour later, putting team strategy over personal records. He walked off unbeaten on 129, with 16 boundaries and two sixes to his name.
This was a defining moment where “Gill the batter” and “Gill the skipper” moved in sync. Rather than chase a double hundred against a tired bowling attack, he backed his bowlers to make early inroads.
India added 200 runs on Day 2 to their overnight score of 318/2. Gill shared two crucial partnerships — 91 runs with Nitish Kumar Reddy (43) and 102 with Dhruv Jurel (44). His innings was a mix of elegance, timing, and sharp game awareness.
Jadeja & Kuldeep Trigger Windies Collapse
Once India declared, Jadeja (3/37) and Kuldeep (1/45) took center stage. On a pitch that hadn’t broken down much yet, the spin duo still managed to trouble the visitors.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul (34) and Alick Athanaze (41) put up some resistance with a 66-run stand. But once Jadeja broke through, the West Indies batting crumbled. Chanderpaul edged to KL Rahul at slips, Athanaze was baited into a miscue by Kuldeep, and captain Roston Chase offered a simple return catch to Jadeja for a duck.
The dismissal of John Campbell was particularly unlucky — his full-blooded sweep struck Sai Sudharsan’s knuckle and popped up for a catch, setting the tone for the evening session.
Gill’s Shot Selection Stole the Show
Even as Jaiswal’s unfortunate run-out for 175 was a blow early in the day, Gill’s poise stood out. He manipulated the field beautifully — lofting over when the field was up, and rotating strike smartly once deep fielders came in.
The highlight of the morning came when Gill brought up his second fifty of the series with a flick through mid-wicket off Jayden Seales. Later, he stepped out to loft Justin Greaves for his first six, showcasing his shift in intent from Day 1’s defensive approach to Day 2’s controlled aggression.
Anderson Phillip’s erratic lines only fueled Gill’s rhythm, allowing him to score freely on both sides of the wicket. His calculated aggression ensured India stayed on top.
India in Control After Dominant Day
By the end of Day 2, India were firmly in the driver’s seat. Jadeja’s spell gave them a solid cushion, while Gill’s century further established his growing stature as a match-winner and leader.
With West Indies trailing by a significant margin and six wickets down, India will look to press for an innings victory on Day 3.
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