India Nears Series Victory Despite Centuries by Hope and Campbell in 2nd Test Battle

In the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, India’s bowlers initially set up the game for an easy victory. However, Justin Greaves and Jayden Seales put on a resilient last-wicket partnership, delaying the home team’s anticipated win until the fifth day.

The duo added 79 runs for the final wicket, extending West Indies’ lead to 120 runs. This was beyond expectations, particularly after West Indies’ innings began to collapse following the dismissals of Shai Hope (103 runs off 214 balls, hitting 12 fours and 2 sixes) and John Campbell (115 runs off 199 balls, with 12 fours and 3 sixes).

Hope and Campbell’s third-wicket partnership, which began after tea on the third day, continued through the morning session as both players ended their long-standing century droughts, complicating India’s straightforward victory plans.

Campbell survived several leg-before appeals and a DRS check before achieving his maiden Test century by slog-sweeping Ravindra Jadeja for a six. Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s attempts at reverse swing and Mohammed Siraj’s shorter deliveries, Campbell persisted before being out to a reverse sweep off Jadeja.

Roston Chase continued aggressively, notably sweeping Washington Sundar for boundaries. After lunch, Hope experienced some luck in reaching his first hundred in eight years but eventually fell to Siraj’s delivery. Tevin Imlach attempted to accelerate the scoring but was pinned by a low-bouncing delivery from Kuldeep Yadav, who began West Indies’ collapse by exploiting the fourth-day pitch conditions.

Khary Pierre’s careless shot led to his downfall, while Bumrah claimed two more wickets in successive overs before Greaves and Seales formed a resolute, nearly 22-over-long partnership. With deliberate play, Greaves struck an unbeaten 85-ball 50 and Seales hit one of the partnership’s few big shots, a six off Kuldeep.

Yashasvi Jaiswal aimed to conclude India’s 121-run chase swiftly but was dismissed after unsuccessfully trying to play expansive shots. KL Rahul and B. Sai Sudharsan adopted a more cautious approach, forming an unbeaten 54-run partnership that left India at 63 for one, just 58 runs short of victory.

Published on October 13, 2025.