As soon as I sat down to watch the second Test between India and the West Indies, the question on everyone’s lips was whether the tourists could withstand the hosts’ pressure. The answer came quickly.
Within an hour of play on day three of the IND vs WI clash in Delhi, Kuldeep Yadav produced a spell that will be remembered long after this West Indies tour of India ends. His left-arm wrist-spin ripped through the visitors’ middle order, returning 5 for 82 and bowling them out for 248.
In addition, India had earlier declared at a towering 518/5, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s commanding 175 and captain Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 129. With a 270-run lead, Gill enforced the follow-on, making it clear that this IND vs WI contest belonged to the home side.
Watching Kuldeep deceive batsmen with drift and subtle turn, I felt as though he was weaving a web around them like a craftsman spinning fine silk. The visitors were on their knees, and India’s control seemed absolute.
Kuldeep’s magical morning – IND vs WI fifer rocks West Indies
Kuldeep’s burst was as thrilling as a sudden thunderclap on a clear day. Operating on a pitch offering little turn, he used drift to beat Shai Hope’s forward defence and hit off-stump.
Minutes later, Tevin Imlach was trapped lbw by another sharply turning ball, and Justin Greaves’ attempted reverse sweep only ended in another lbw. Each wicket felt like a punch to the West Indies’ stomach during this West Indies tour of India, and I remember leaning forward, almost willing the next dismissal.
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When Kuldeep returned after lunch to outfox Jayden Seales with a disguised googly, sealing his fifth Test fifty, the stadium buzzed with electricity. Moreover, the figures – 5-82 in 26.5 overs – not only levelled him with Johnny Wardle for the most five-wicket hauls by a left-arm wrist-spinner, but he achieved the feat in only 15 Tests.
Kuldeep Yadav trapping batters with ease this morning 🤌 pic.twitter.com/N0jzGX3MBL
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 12, 2025
Kuldeep Yadav trapping batters with ease this morning 🤌
In addition, that efficiency felt like watching a master chef whip up a gourmet meal in half the time. The IND vs WI scoreboard underlined India’s dominance, yet there were whispers: should Gill have enforced the follow-on so early?
To appreciate how one-sided the match looked after the first innings, consider the numbers:
| Innings | Runs | Notable Performances |
| India 1st innings | 518/5 declared | Yashasvi Jaiswal 175, Shubman Gill 129* |
| West Indies 1st innings | 248 | Kuldeep Yadav 5-82 |
| West Indies 2nd innings (follow-on) | 173/2 at stumps | John Campbell 87*, Shai Hope 66* |
Those numbers tell their own story. India’s mammoth total gave them a cushion as big as a giant’s mattress, while the West Indies’ response looked like a rudderless ship. Kuldeep’s five-for was the storm that capsized it.
Campbell & Hope resist – West Indies tour of India gets a twist
Cricket can turn like a coin tossed in the air, and this West Indies tour of India has been no different. As I watched the follow-on innings of this IND vs WI Test, the script took an unexpected twist.
The visitors lost Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze quickly, and India’s bowlers, including Washington Sundar and Mohammed Siraj, snatched an innings victory. But then John Campbell and Shai Hope dug in.
They batted with patience, grit, and flair, stitching together an unbroken 138-run partnership – West Indies’ highest for the year – to take their team to 173/2 at stumps.
Campbell’s career-best 87* and Hope’s 66* were like a pair of defiant oaks standing firm against a storm, and for the first time on this tour, they made India work hard for wickets.
As someone who has followed this IND vs WI rivalry for years, I saw this stand as a reminder that Test cricket rewards resilience. Campbell swept and lofted Kuldeep early to bring up his half-century, while Hope used deft touch and occasional slog-swept sixes to frustrate the bowlers.
India’s bowlers seemed caught between attacking for wickets and conserving energy; Jasprit Bumrah didn’t bowl for the first 32 overs of the innings. The unbroken partnership reduced the deficit to 97 runs, and though India was still led by a mountain, the visitors had found a foothold.
Why does India remain on top – analysis and outlook?
After three days of this West Indies tour of India, India remained in control despite the West Indies’ fightback. The scoreboard reads: India 518/5 declared, West Indies 248 & 173/2. Kuldeep’s fifer, supported by Bumrah’s reverse-swing dismissal of Khary Pierre, ensured India built a 270-run lead.
The slow Delhi pitch meant bowlers had to create magic in the air, and Kuldeep’s mastery of drift and deception did exactly that. From a personal point of view, I felt Gill’s decision to enforce the follow-on early was bold.
Some might argue that he risked tiring his bowlers, but he was also sending a message in this IND vs WI showdown: India expects to win, and they expect to win quickly. Even with Campbell and Hope’s defiance, the West Indies still need nearly 100 runs just to make India bat again.
In addition, with two days left, the pitch is likely to deteriorate and bowlers like Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are itching to exploit any variable bounce, India’s advantage remains as secure as a fortress. In my eyes, Kuldeep’s fifer has not just kept India ahead; it has set a tone of assertiveness for the rest of the West Indies tour of India.
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FAQs
What happened on Day 3 of the IND vs WI second Test?
Day 3 saw Kuldeep Yadav take a brilliant five-wicket haul to bowl West Indies out for 248. India enforced the follow-on with a 270-run lead, but John Campbell and Shai Hope fought back with an unbeaten 138-run stand.
How many times has Kuldeep Yadav taken five wickets in Tests?
Kuldeep’s spell in this IND vs WI Test was his fifth five-wicket haul. He now shares the record for most five-fors by a left-arm wrist-spinner and reached the milestone in just 15 Tests.
Why did India enforce the follow-on during the West Indies tour of India?
India had built a mammoth total of 518/5 and bowled out the West Indies for 248. With a 270-run advantage, skipper Shubman Gill enforced the follow-on to push for a quick win in the West Indies tour of India.
Who were the standout batters in the IND vs WI second Test?
For India, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 175 and Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 129 dominated the first innings. In the West Indies’ follow-on innings, John Campbell (87*) and Shai Hope (66*) stood out.
Can West Indies still save the match in this West Indies tour of India Test?
They still trail by 97 runs despite the Campbell–Hope stand. Unless they produce a monumental effort, India’s bowlers and the deteriorating pitch make a draw or victory for the visitors unlikely in this IND vs WI contest.
