India eye more WTC points as WI seek resurrection

The West Indies have termed the ongoing two-Test series Mission India. The clarion call, of course, extends beyond on-field performance. It carries a broader ambition of reviving the glory days of West Indies cricket, attracting sponsors, building infrastructure and, in short, Make West Indies Great Again (MWIGA). Everyone in West Indies cricket believes that the resurrection must begin on the field.

A galaxy of legends has descended on Delhi - from Brian Lara and Viv Richards to Richie Richardson - as part of the MWIGA mission. These legends were expected to deliver a motivational talk to the Roston Chase-led side ahead of the second Test. "I think we are going to rush across to Delhi to have a little chat with the boys. You know, it's always tough for any country to play in India and beat India. But we want to be able to be competitive. So hopefully, we can get a competitive game in the next match," Lara said in Mumbai the other day.

After the recent string of debacles - whether in the pink-ball Test against Australia or the white-ball series against Nepal - one would have assumed things could not get worse for the Caribbean side. But the innings defeat in Ahmedabad showed that West Indies can, in fact, sink to a new low.

The first Test ended in half the usual duration. Across two innings, West Indies failed to last even 90 overs - the standard quota for a single day of play in a five-day match. No batter reached 50. In fact, no one even reached 40. To say West Indies have been punching below their weight would be an understatement.

There was also no sign of patience or perseverance in playing out maiden overs to survive and build a long innings - a batting trait required at the Test level. They played 16 maidens across two innings, but not out of intent to block or frustrate the bowlers. The primary focus ahead of the second Test, starting Friday (October 10), is simply how many overs they will survive and how long the match will last. India will once again start as overwhelming favourites.

For the home team, it will be business as usual - maintaining their stranglehold over a side that, as West Indies coach Daren Sammy ruefully admitted, last won a series in India in 1983, the year he was born. With the Indian camp indicating no changes to the Ahmedabad XI, attention will centre on two players: Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The spotlight, though, is on Sudharsan, who has managed just 147 runs in seven innings and scored only seven in the first Test.

It might be a big game for the Tamil Nadu batter, although skipper Shubman Gill has backed his No. 3. "Not every match, everyone is going to score a 100. You have to give young players more opportunities. They are still trying to figure out their game. We believe you have to see someone's potential first and then judge their game in its entirety."

Reddy, on the other hand, was hardly used in Ahmedabad - he did not bat and bowled only four overs. He may be called upon to bat higher in the order in Delhi.

The larger objective of the Test is to collect the 12 points on offer and add to India's tally in the World Test Championship (WTC) table. That may not be too difficult on the dry, brown-black surface expected at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

When: India vs West Indies, 2nd Test, October 10-14, 2025, 9:30 AM IST

Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

What to expect: Yet another one-sided Test with eminent likelihood of an early finish. The black soil pitch is expected to offer turn, making life definitely difficult for the West Indian batters, none of whom has managed a substantial score in the first Test. The Indian players - batters and bowlers alike - should relish the conditions and it would be quite an achievement by the visitors if they succeed to force India to bat twice in the Test.

Team News:

India:There is no news of any injury concerns in the camp. The talking point ahead of the Test is whether the team management will give Nitish a promotion in the batting order. The Andhra all-rounder did not get to bat at all in Ahmedabad. The rest of the line-up should remain unchanged.

Probable XI: Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja (vc), Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

West Indies:Left arm pacer Jediah Blades may get a look-in and that is the only potential option before the visitors.

Probable XI: John Campbell, Tagnarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athinaze, Brandon King, Roston Chase (c), Shai Hope, Justin Greaves, Khary Pierre, Jomel Warrican, Johann Layne/Jediah Blades, Jayden Seales

Did you know:

- West Indies last beat India in a Test match in 2002 - 26 Tests ago. Since then, they have lost nine series to India.

- Last time India lost a Test in Delhi was in 1987 against West Indies (by 5 wickets). Since then, they have won 11 Tests, and drawn two at the venue

- Last time India played a Test in Delhi in 2023, Ravindra Jadeja took his Test innings (7/42) and in the match (10/110), best bowling figures (vs AUS, 2023).

- West Indies openers have not had a 50-plus stand in their last 13 Test innings in India. In 12 innings this year, they crossed fifty just once.

What they said:

"If there would be an opportunity, definitely we would be looking to play him (Prasidh Krishna). As of now, we want to play our strongest XI. Because WTC is something you have to win almost 70 per cent of your matches to be able to secure a spot in the finals. So, depending on where we are on the table... These are still early stages. So, we want to play the best XI and we want to play the best team that is available for us." - Shubman Gill, India skipper.

"Yesterday we had a team event and I had the privilege of speaking with all three of them (Brian Lara, Viv Richards and Richie Richardson). And they basically said the same thing. They just told me to keep believing that, obviously, we're down right now. But it has to change at some point. And the change can start from now. But it starts with the belief and the mindset of each and every player. And just to keep motivating the guys that we can still play some positive cricket. And change the run. Our hearts don't fall at the moment." - Roston Chase, West Indies captain