India secured a commanding 2-0 series sweep against West Indies with a seven-wicket victory in the second Test at New Delhi on Tuesday, marking Shubman Gill’s first series win as Test captain. The hosts, who needed just 58 runs to reach the target of 121, completed the formalities in about an hour with KL Rahul scoring an unbeaten 58 and claiming all 40 opposition wickets across both Tests.KL Rahul, accompanied by Dhruv Jurel (6 not out), reached the target in 35.2 overs on the final day. Rahul’s innings included six fours and two sixes, forming a crucial 79-run partnership with Sai Sudharsan (39) for the second wicket.The second Test extended to the fifth morning due to resistance from West Indies centurions John Campbell (115) and Shai Hope (103), along with a determined tenth-wicket partnership. The Feroz Shah Kotla pitch remained low and slow throughout, offering minimal assistance to spinners.Indian bowlers demonstrated their prowess across both Tests, with pacers contributing effectively on challenging surfaces and spinners maintaining patience when conditions became unfavorable at the Kotla.The Indian batting lineup showcased their dominance with five centuries and a near-90 score among the top six across both matches.“I am getting used to managing this side. Sometimes you have to take bold decisions,” said Gill at the presentation ceremony.Kuldeep Yadav earned the player of the match award for his eight-wicket haul, including a five-wicket performance in the first innings. Ravindra Jadeja was named player of the series for his outstanding all-round performance.The series victory, while comprehensive, came against a West Indies side whose top-order batters currently average below 35 in Test cricket. The West Indies bowling attack, except for Jayden Seales, lacked substantial first-class experience.Roston Chase joined Kraigg Brathwaite as only the second West Indies captain to lose all his first five Tests as leader.“I think the guys we have here are some of the best players in the Caribbean. So it’s just for us to use this last Test match as a stepping stone…We just have to keep improving as much as we can from here,” Chase. said at the presentation ceremony.India’s upcoming challenge will be against South Africa in a two-Test series next month. The ongoing series between South Africa and Pakistan has shown that turn and variable bounce could be crucial factors, with spinners claiming 15 out of 16 wickets in the first two days.The South African batting lineup, featuring players like Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, and Dewald Brevis, presents a more formidable challenge compared to the West Indies side.The Indian batting lineup, though relatively young except for KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, includes experienced players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill who can handle challenging surfaces.The performance of Indian spinners varies with pitch conditions. While Jadeja and Washington Sundar Appearing less threatening on unhelpful tracks, Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist spin provides a more effective option.The venue selection for the upcoming South Africa series will be crucial, with Eden Gardens traditionally offering assistance to seamers during early and late hours while remaining a good batting surface.The Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati will host its first-ever Test match, adding an element of uncertainty regarding pitch behavior and match dynamics.The series holds significance as India’s last red-ball cricket engagement before their away series in Sri Lanka, scheduled eight months later.
