India wins both matches as Gill gets his first series victory
India wins both matches as Gill gets his first series victory
India vs West Indies: The Indian cricket team etched their name in the history book as it matched the world record for the most consecutive series wins against a single team in the test cricket.
India took just over an hour on the final day to chase down the 121-run target and complete a 2-0 series win over West Indies. They lost two wickets in the process but got the job done. This win pushed India to 61.9% on the World Test Championship points table, keeping them at No. 3.
KL Rahul played a steady role in the chase, staying unbeaten on 58. He finished the series with 192 runs, second only to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 219. Kuldeep Yadav was the top wicket-taker with 12 wickets. This was also Shubman Gill’s first series win as captain, after drawing 2-2 in England.
India started the day needing 58 more runs to win. They had earlier declared their first innings quickly and enforced the follow-on, ending up bowling 200 overs in a row before being set a target of 121.
On the final morning, India lost B Sai Sudharsan and Gill. Sudharsan, who is still trying to lock down the No. 3 spot, had scored 87 in the first innings but got out to a loose shot in the second, caught brilliantly by Shai Hope in the slips.
Gill looked eager to finish the match fast he hit a six and a four in one over from Roston Chase, but then mistimed a shot and got out.
Rahul was more composed. He hit two sixes one straight over Khary Pierre and another slog-sweep off Jomel Warrican, who had dismissed him earlier in the match.
This was India’s tenth win in a row against the West Indies. It was also their 122nd Test victory overall, moving them ahead of South Africa to No. 3 on the all-time list.
Brief Score:
India: 518/5d & 124/3
West Indies: 248/10 & 390/10
India won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Kuldeep Yadav, 5/82 & 3/104
Player of the Series: Ravindra Jadeja, 104 runs, 8 wickets
Day 3
India stayed on top in the Test match after Kuldeep Yadav took five wickets and helped bowl out West Indies for 248. Even though the pitch was better for batting, Kuldeep’s spin caused trouble. With a lead of 270 runs, captain Shubman Gill asked West Indies to bat again. India got two quick wickets, but John Campbell and Shai Hope fought back strongly in the final session.
In the morning, Gill changed Kuldeep’s bowling end, which helped him use the rough patches near the batter. Kuldeep dismissed Shai Hope with a ball that didn’t turn, and then trapped Tevin Imlach LBW. Justin Greaves tried a reverse sweep but missed and was also out LBW. Siraj then bowled Jomel Warrican, leaving West Indies at 175/8.
Khary Pierre and Anderson Phillip added 42 runs before lunch, defending well. After the break, Bumrah bowled a great delivery to dismiss Pierre. The last pair—Phillip and Seales—held on for nine more overs before Kuldeep got Seales out to complete his five-wicket haul. Phillip stayed unbeaten on 24 from 93 balls. Despite a long fielding session, Gill enforced the follow-on.
West Indies started their second innings carefully. Campbell and Chanderpaul played out the first eight overs, but Chanderpaul got out trying to pull a short ball from Siraj. Sundar then bowled Athanaze with a drifting delivery, and Tea was taken early.
After Tea, Campbell and Hope decided to attack. Campbell hit Jadeja for a six, and Hope went after Sundar. Sundar had three LBW appeals against Campbell, but reviews and umpire calls went against him. He had a short chat with the umpire, but play continued.
Gill brought Kuldeep back in the 22nd over, but Campbell hit him for a six and a four to reach his fifty. Hope also reached his half-century, and together they added 79 runs in the first hour after Tea. Their partnership continued till stumps and became West Indies’ best in 2025. Even Bumrah couldn’t break through. Campbell ended the day on 87* (his highest Test score), and Hope on 50*, cutting India’s lead to just 97 runs.
Day 2
Shubman Gill made the most of the sunny day in Delhi, scoring his 10th Test century on Day 2. Yashasvi Jaiswal missed out on a double hundred, but India still piled on the runs and declared at 518/5, about an hour into the second session. Gill stayed unbeaten on 129 his highest Test score in India. West Indies batted better than they did in Ahmedabad, but still ended the day struggling at 140/4, trailing by 378 runs.
India started the second day with an attacking mindset, scoring at a brisk pace of over four runs per over. Though they lost Jaiswal and Nitish Reddy, Gill kept the runs flowing smoothly.
A mix-up between Jaiswal and Gill led to Jaiswal’s run out, cutting short his chance for a third double century. Jaiswal hit the ball towards mid-off and tried for a quick single, but Gill didn’t respond, leaving Jaiswal stranded mid-pitch.
Nitish Reddy was promoted to bat at No. 5 to give the young all-rounder more time in the middle. He played confidently, driving freely and handling the bowlers with ease. He struck a couple of sixes off left-arm spinner Warrican and was dropped once at mid-off. But soon after, he mistimed a big shot and was caught at long-on for 43.
Gill, on the other hand, batted with total control. He stepped out confidently to the pacers and played elegant drives and flicks. He reached his half-century before lunch and continued to dominate after the break. Soon, he brought up his 10th Test century and fifth of the year, joining Virat Kohli as the only other Indian captain to achieve that in a single calendar year. Dhruv Jurel supported him well, scoring freely before getting out for 44 while attempting a big shot. Gill then declared the innings, giving India’s bowlers plenty of time to attack before stumps.
For the West Indies, things started better this time. Openers John Campbell and Tagenarine Chanderpaul handled the early overs from Jasprit Bumrah well. However, Campbell was dismissed in an unlucky way he tried to sweep Jadeja, and the ball hit Sai Sudharsan’s helmet grille at short leg before getting trapped between his hands and body, resulting in a bizarre catch.
Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze then steadied things for a while, but Jadeja struck again as Chanderpaul edged one to KL Rahul at slip. Athanaze was batting well before a bouncer from Bumrah hit his helmet, and soon after, he slog-swept Kuldeep Yadav to Jadeja at mid-wicket. Roston Chase also fell cheaply, giving a simple return catch to Jadeja.
By the end of the day, Shai Hope and Tevin Imlach were at the crease, keeping West Indies afloat at 140/4, with India firmly in control.
Day 1
India ended Day 1 in a commanding position at 318 for 2, thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 173 from Yashasvi Jaiswal and a composed 87 from B Sai Sudharsan. The day began with a small victory for captain Shubman Gill, who finally won a toss after six failed attempts. On a slow Feroz Shah Kotla pitch, India’s batters made the most of the conditions, while West Indies struggled to find breakthroughs despite bowling with discipline.
Jaiswal continued to build his reputation as one of the best young Test batters. He started cautiously, respecting the bowlers early on, then shifted gears when the West Indies lost their accuracy in the middle session. He punished loose deliveries with precision and avoided risky shots, especially against good-length balls. His innings was a masterclass in patience and shot selection. With this century, Jaiswal equaled Graeme Smith’s record for most hundreds as a Test opener under 24. Only Sachin Tendulkar has scored more centuries for India before turning 24, and only Don Bradman has more 150+ scores at that age.
Sudharsan, playing just his second Test, looked calm and confident at No. 3. He joined Jaiswal early after KL Rahul was stumped for 38, and together they added a massive 197-run partnership. Sudharsan’s innings was nearly flawless he played just three false shots in 165 balls, one of which led to his dismissal. He showed great control, especially with his back-foot punches, and reached his second Test fifty with ease. His performance was a strong answer to India’s search for a reliable No. 3.
West Indies had their moments, especially in the first hour and after tea, but couldn’t maintain pressure. Their bowlers gave away no extras all day, but lacked penetration. The middle session was particularly costly, with India scoring 126 runs without losing a wicket. Jayden Seales and Khary Pierre started well, but their lines and lengths drifted, allowing Jaiswal and Sudharsan to score freely. Roston Chase and Jomel Warrican found some turn, and Warrican eventually dismissed both Rahul and Sudharsan with deliveries that spun sharply.
KL Rahul had a brief but entertaining stay, hitting a six early in his innings. However, his attempt to repeat the shot against Warrican led to his dismissal. Jaiswal, in contrast, avoided aerial shots and focused on placement and timing. He accelerated smartly before lunch and kept the scoreboard ticking throughout the day.
In the final session, West Indies tried to fight back with reverse swing, and Seales bowled a tight spell. But the pressure didn’t last, and Pierre’s loose over gave India breathing room again. Sudharsan was eventually trapped lbw by Warrican, but the damage was already done. Jaiswal and Gill then guided India safely to stumps, with Jaiswal finishing the day strongly by scoring 17 runs in the last two overs.
India’s batting dominance, led by two 23-year-olds, has put them in a strong position going into Day 2. Jaiswal’s hunger for big scores and Sudharsan’s maturity at No. 3 are promising signs for India’s future.