New Delhi, Oct 9 (NationPress) As the sun emerged from behind the post-rain clouds at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, it signaled the Indian team to engage in an intense net session that spanned over three hours on Wednesday. The atmosphere was all about focus in every activity they undertook – from fitness drills to fielding, and both batting and bowling practice.

With their rhythm precise and their intent clear, it was evident that the Indian team aimed to prepare themselves for their upcoming goal: to excel in every aspect and achieve a clean sweep against a struggling West Indies in the second Test commencing on Friday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Concerns about India's performance in a new home season, especially following the 3-0 defeat to New Zealand and the retirements of legends Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, were decisively set aside as Shubman & Co. secured a dominant victory by an innings and 140 runs within three days in Ahmedabad.

The foundations of that victory were solid – declaring at a formidable score of 448/5, with notable contributions from Dhruv Jurel’s maiden century, KL Rahul’s well-paced hundred, and Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten ton. The bowlers also showcased their sharp skills, with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah dismissing the listless West Indies batters with accuracy.

Adding to the pressure, Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar ensured that spin played a crucial role on a greenish Ahmedabad pitch. It’s anticipated that the spin trio will have an even more significant impact on a black soil pitch in Delhi.

The Kotla pitch, which saw a three-day finish against Australia during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series (with Jadeja taking a stunning seven wickets in the second innings), shows familiar signs – dry patches, minimal grass, and a surface expected to deteriorate as the match advances.

With rain subsiding (thanks to the western disturbance moving on, although chilly winds persist) and clearer skies returning, the lingering moisture should evaporate by the time the match begins on Friday.

As assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate indicated, India is unlikely to alter a winning combination. Bumrah, who bowled just 20 overs in Ahmedabad, is set to play, and Nitish Kumar Reddy may receive additional opportunities to demonstrate his all-round abilities after being sidelined in the first match.

The batting lineup appears stable, although India would like B Sai Sudharsan to fulfill the high expectations the team management has for him. Ten Doeschate emphasized that if Sudharsan can deliver big runs in New Delhi, it would complete India’s batting puzzle ahead of hosting the reigning World Test Championship winners, South Africa, next month.

For the West Indies, the challenges are substantial – both on and off the field. On-field, a weakened fast bowling attack and a fragile batting lineup must now find solutions and put up resistance against a relentless Indian side.

Captain Roston Chase will hope to capitalize on the pitch with his off-spin, but the responsibility for batting resilience rests with him, Shai Hope, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, and Alick Athanaze.

Given India’s all-round strengths, the margin for error is minimal, and the West Indies, having suffered in Ahmedabad, are acutely aware of what is needed to prevent a one-sided contest. Their practice session showed productive energy and suggests they are eager to correct the mistakes made in Ahmedabad.

However, as the scoreboard resets to zero on Friday morning, it’s India who currently hold all the advantages – in form, fitness, and familiarity with the conditions. If the pitch remains true to its dry nature and spin takes center stage once again, India should find little trouble in securing a swift 2-0 series victory under New Delhi’s sunny skies.

When: Friday, October 10, 9:30 AM IST

Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

Where to watch: Star Sports Network for live TV coverage and JioHotstar for live streaming

Squads

India: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wk), N Jagadeesan (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, B Sai Sudharsan, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.

West Indies: Roston Chase (c), Kevlon Anderson, Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shai Hope (wk), Tevin Imlach (wk), Brandon King, Justin Greaves, Johann Layne, Khary Pierre, Jomel Warrican, Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip, and Jediah Blades.