On Day 4 of the second Test at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, West Indies clawed back from the brink of collapse with a gritty 138-run partnership between Shai Hope and John Campbell, turning what looked like a certain Indian victory into a tense, nail-biting finish. The match, part of the India vs West Indies Test Series 2025Arun Jaitley Stadium, began on October 10 and is scheduled to conclude on October 14, 2025. India, having enforced the follow-on after a 270-run first-innings lead, now find themselves chasing a win with the pitch turning sluggish and the visitors refusing to buckle.

From 378 Behind to Just 97 Runs Away

Day 3 ended with West Indies at 140/4, still trailing by 378 runs. Most assumed the match was heading for a routine Indian win. But the morning of Day 4 changed everything. Kuldeep Yadav, India’s left-arm wrist-spinner, had earlier torn through the West Indies batting order with a five-wicket haul — his fifth in Test cricket — dismissing Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, and Justin Greaves in quick succession. But Hope, back at the crease after being dropped, and Campbell, who had scored 115 in the first innings, refused to surrender. They played with patience, patience that turned into defiance.

By lunch, Hope was unbeaten on 92, Campbell on 41, and the visitors were only 18 runs behind. The pitch, once a spinner’s paradise, had slowed dramatically. The drift that had haunted West Indies earlier was now working in their favor — or at least, not against them. As Cricket West Indies’s commentary team noted, "They didn’t just survive — they made India’s bowlers look ordinary."

India’s Bowlers Tired, Bumrah’s New Ball Backfires

India’s strategy shifted. Captain Shubman Gill took the second new ball early, handing it to Jasprit Bumrah — a move meant to exploit any lingering swing. But the dry, slow surface offered little help. Bumrah’s first over conceded four runs, including a square-cut boundary by Roston Chase. The fielding adjustments — tighter rings, slips pulled back — failed to force errors. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar’s beautifully disguised off-break dismissed Alick Athanaze just before tea, but the breakthrough felt like a consolation.

India’s own chase, needing 121 to win, started poorly. Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught at long-on by Anderson Phillip for 8, leaving India at 9/1 after just 1.3 overs. The pressure mounted. The crowd, which had been roaring for a win, fell silent. The pitch, once predictable, had become a puzzle. No one knew if the ball would hold its line, duck, or skid through.

The Pitch That Changed the Game

The Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch, famous for turning square by Day 4, had lost its bite. Spinners who had taken 23 wickets in the first three days were now bowling into dust. "It’s not the pitch anymore — it’s the players," said one veteran commentator on CricTalks Live Coverage. "The ball doesn’t turn like it used to. It just sits there. And that’s what Hope and Campbell exploited."

Moisture, which had been expected to assist swing early on Day 4, never materialized. India’s fast bowlers, including Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja, toiled for hours. Siraj’s dismissal of Tagenarine Chanderpaul — caught behind with an ugly drive — was one of the few moments of pure seam movement all day. But even that felt like a relic of yesterday.

What Happens Next?

As of the final report on October 13, West Indies were 384/3, trailing by 97 runs. Hope was on 141, one short of his maiden Test century. Campbell was on 128. The partnership, now over 150, is the highest for West Indies in the fourth innings of any Test against India. If they survive the day, the match will end in a draw — and India’s 1-0 series lead will remain intact, but the victory will feel hollow.

For India, the challenge is psychological as much as technical. They’ve won 12 of their last 14 home Tests. But this isn’t just about skill anymore — it’s about nerve. Can they force a collapse with the ball? Can they chase 121 without panic? Or will this become another chapter in the long history of Indian pitches offering more hope than results?

Why This Matters

This match isn’t just about two teams. It’s about the evolution of Test cricket in the modern era. Pitch preparation is under scrutiny. The BCCI has been accused of favoring spin-friendly surfaces to guarantee wins — but when those surfaces turn into dust, even the best bowlers struggle. West Indies, historically seen as underdogs in Asia, have shown they can compete — not with power, but with poise.

For Shai Hope, a century here would be his first in 18 months — and his first against India. For John Campbell, it would be the crowning moment of a career that’s spent years in the shadows. And for India? It’s a reminder that even in their strongest conditions, cricket doesn’t always obey the script.