West Indies surprised India with a gritty batting display on Day 4 of the second Test, delaying the inevitable and stretching the contest to the final day in New Delhi. Riding on centuries from Shai Hope and John Campbell, the West Indies piled on the runs in their second innings, scoring 390 and making India bat again. Chasing a tricky target of 121 on a pitch that had begun to offer some assistance to bowlers at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, India went to stumps at 63 for 1.

Delhi Test Day 4 Highlights | Scorecard

India remain favourites to complete the victory on Tuesday morning and secure a series sweep, but the West Indies can take heart from a commendable batting effort, particularly after having been rolled over in three of their previous innings on the tour. For the first time in 16 innings and in nearly a year, the West Indies surpassed the 300-run mark in a Test innings.

However, it is a case of what might have been for both sides. India’s decisions to declare their first innings at 518 for 5 and enforce the follow-on with a 270-run lead and a fatigued bowling attack have invited criticism. Conversely, the West Indies demonstrated rare grit with the bat, but they will know deep down that they could have challenged India more had they not lost six wickets for just 40 runs in the second session on Monday.

India were made to bat again after enforcing follow-on for the first time since 2012.

Chasing 121, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early, as the left-hander threw it away while attempting to set the pace. The opening batter struck two boundaries but lasted just seven deliveries before being caught at long-on while trying to attack left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican as early as the second over.

The dismissal could have unsettled the dressing room, but Shubman Gill and Sai Rahul added 54 runs for the second wicket over 99 deliveries, steadying the innings.

India still required 58 runs when play ended on Monday, as the umpires did not enforce the additional 30 minutes which might have come into play had they been closer to the target.

It was a testing final hour for the two Indian batters as the Delhi pitch began to behave more unpredictably, with the ball bouncing up and down with increasing regularity. Both Gill and Rahul navigated the low deliveries with composure, ensuring India reached stumps with a sigh of relief.

West Indies head coach Darren Sammy was pictured smiling in the dressing room at the end of a hard day’s play, reflecting the uplifted morale in their camp. When the first Test concluded inside three days, with the West Indies bowled out for less than 170 in both innings, critics questioned whether Roston Chase’s team belonged at this level. Yet, with the gutsy effort on Wednesday, the West Indies can leave India with more positives than heartbreaks from the tour.

– Ends