IND vs WI 2025, 2nd Test, Day 3 Review: West Indies finally show resistance with bat after India enforce follow-on

West Indies will feel slightly better after their positive end to Day 3 of the second Test against India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, October 12. They started the day at 140/4, trailing India's first-innings score by another 378 runs.

On Day 3, the Indian bowlers ruled the roost as they took four West Indies wickets in quick time. The tourists slumped to 175/8 in the 57th over and were staring down the barrel. However, Khary Pierre and Anderson Phillip forged a gritty 46-run stand for the ninth wicket to take the West Indies past the 200-run mark.

Jasprit Bumrah eventually broke the partnership, sending Pierre packing for a 46-ball 23 in the 73rd over. Jayden Seales joined Phillip in the middle and they added 27 runs off 54 balls for the last wicket. Kuldeep Yadav brought the curtains down on the West Indies innings when he dismissed Seales for a 25-ball 13. This was the left-arm spinner's fifth wicket in the innings. He finished with excellent figures of 5/82 in 26.5 overs. Ravindra Jadeja also supported him well, bagging a three-wicket haul for his efforts. Meanwhile, Phillip remained not out on 24 after facing 93 deliveries.

India decided to enforce the follow-on, having taken a lead of 270 runs in the first innings. Mohammed Siraj took the wicket of Tagenarine Chanderpaul in the second innings, giving India their first breakthrough. Washington Sundar, who had gone wicketless in the first innings, bowled a peach of a delivery to get rid of Alick Athanaze.

Shai Hope joined John Campbell with the score at 35/2 in the 15th over. The two experienced batters mixed caution with aggression and didn't let the Indian bowlers settle. Campbell used the sweep shot to good effect and kept the scoreboard ticking. Hope also showed solid technique and reached his first half-century in 31 Test innings.

Campbell finished on 87* off 145 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes. This turns out to be his highest Test score. Meanwhile, Hope remained not out on 66 off 103 balls, with the help of eight fours and two sixes. The partnership yielded 138 runs off 207 balls. The West Indies need another 97 runs to make India bat again. They will want this duo to take them to the lead on Day 4.

"We started really well. The wicket is good to bat on and there wasn't any pace on the wicket, so we just tried to hit it the right length. Hitting the stumps was my plan. The first innings was brilliant. Second innings, they batted really well, Hope and Campbell started hitting very well. And they are batting really well at the moment. (On the wicket) It looks pretty well to bat. The wicket is obviously slower. And there isn't any the pace on the wicket, so you have to create and generate the energy. And for wrist-spinners, it is difficult sometimes," Kuldeep said after the end of day's play.

"Hitting the right length and trying to beat the batmen in the air, that was my plan. I was just trying to speed my arm speed. I thought yesterday I bowled well. There wasn't any pace from the wicket. So, I had to create something. The rhythm was good. I was just focusing on the arm speed. Whatever ball I get, I just have to bowl. And whatever format I play, just give my best. Taking a five-wicket haul after quite a long was special. You have to create magic on the field. That's what I always think about. And it doesn't matter if I play in 18 months or one month. So, that was very clear for me," he added.