New Delhi, Oct 11 (NationPress) Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav combined to claim four wickets as India solidified their lead in the second Test, bringing the West Indies down to 140/4 in 43 overs, now trailing by 378 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Shai Hope remained not out on 31, providing some resistance for the visitors after Jadeja (3-37) and Kuldeep (1-45) caused a collapse from 87/1 to 107/4. Although the West Indies showed more determination than in Ahmedabad, their innings was marred by lapses in focus—mistakes that have frequently plagued them in this series.

India showcased their dominance before a crowd of 15,700 on day two, declaring a formidable first-innings total of 518/5. This was spearheaded by Shubman Gill, who achieved an unbeaten 129—his tenth century in this format and fifth as Indian captain, hitting 16 fours and 2 sixes. With the pitch beginning to show signs of deterioration, the hosts aim to capitalize on their advantage on day three.

The day began with disappointment for India as Jaiswal’s bid for a third Test double century ended abruptly due to an unusual run-out in the second over. After hitting a full ball to mid-off, Jaiswal attempted a quick single, but Gill had already called it off. By then, Tagenarine Chanderpaul executed a direct hit to the keeper’s end, and though Jaiswal turned back after advancing more than halfway, keeper Tevin Imlach swiftly broke the stumps.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, promoted to number five to gain some playing time, narrowly avoided an lbw decision on the second ball he faced from Jayden Seales, before driving him for four.

Reddy enjoyed some more fortune as he played a hard drive that just eluded second slip for another four, while Gill found boundaries effortlessly through flicks, drives, and slashes, reaching his fifty with a beautifully timed flick through mid-wicket for four off Seales.

Reddy’s luck continued when, on 20, Anderson Philip dropped a catch at mid-off off Jomel Warrican. Reddy then launched Warrican for two sixes and a four, while a composed Gill delighted the lively crowd by leaning into a half-volley from Greaves and driving through wide of mid-off for four, then thrashing him through the gap at extra cover for another boundary.

However, Reddy fell seven runs short of his fifty while attempting to clear Warrican with a slog sweep, but ended up holing out to long-on. With the West Indies' bowling proving to be unthreatening, Gill swept Pierre for four, and Dhruv Jurel showcased his solid leg-side shots to clinch quick boundaries.

Gill then effortlessly drove Chase for four, before reaching his fifth Test century as captain in 177 balls with a well-placed cut through cover for three runs, earning warm applause from the enthusiastic crowd. He then shifted gears by smashing Chase for six, followed by sweeping and cutting to find his boundaries, even as Jurel received a reprieve at 39.

Jurel, who impressed with his quick selection of lengths, attempted a pull shot on an overpitched delivery from Chase but was bowled for six runs short of his fifty. As he departed, Gill did too, as India declared in the middle of the second session, inviting the West Indies to bat out the remaining 43 overs of the day.

The West Indies began confidently as John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul carefully negotiated the initial swing and low bounce from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj under the afternoon sun.

Campbell looked promising, scoring two boundaries off Siraj and Jadeja with a leaning drive and a deft paddle sweep respectively. However, he was dismissed in an unusual manner for eight runs, with a sharp catch taken by B Sai Sudharsan at forward short leg—the ball deflecting off a sweep and sticking to his helmet.

Both Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze appeared confident in defense, moving assuredly forward or backward, undeterred even during four consecutive maidens. Athanaze enjoyed facing Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling, skillfully cutting, lofting, sweeping, and reverse-sweeping for a six and three fours.

The wrist-spinner nearly trapped Chanderpaul lbw, but an inside edge spared him. With Chanderpaul hitting convincing boundaries off Jadeja and Athanaze employing sweep and lap shots against Washington Sundar, the West Indies managed to secure their first fifty-run partnership of the series.

However, Jadeja broke the 66-run partnership by forcing Chanderpaul to edge to a juggling first slip. Athanaze followed suit, falling for 41 after dragging a slower ball from Kuldeep to mid-wicket. Skipper Roston Chase was also dismissed—attempting to flick a length ball to the leg side but offering a simple return catch to Jadeja.

Hope continued to fight for the West Indies with his elegant drives, collecting five boundaries in his first 38 balls. He and Imlach (14 not out) ensured that the West Indies didn’t lose another wicket before the conclusion of day two’s play, which once again favored India.

Brief Scores: India 518/5 in 134.2 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 175, Shubman Gill 129 not out; Jomel Warrican 3-98, Roston Chase 1-83) lead West Indies 140/4 in 43 overs (Shai Hope 31 not out, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 34; Ravindra Jadeja 3-37, Kuldeep Yadav 1-45) by 378 runs