Collected photo

NEW DELHI, Oct 11, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - India's spinners struck regular blows 
to dent West Indies' reply as the hosts extended their dominance in the 
second Test after a fluent century from skipper Shubman Gill on Saturday.

The tourists were 140-4 at stumps on the second day, still trailing India by 
378 runs at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Shai Hope, on 31, and wicketkeeper-batsman Tevin Imlach, on 14, were batting 
at close of play after left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets.

Gill led from the front with his unbeaten 129 -- his fifth hundred of the 
year in eight Tests -- after Yashasvi Jaiswal's run out on 175 in the second 
over of the day following a mix-up with the captain.

"Misunderstandings happen and it's part of the game," Jadeja told reporters. 
"Thankfully we are in a good position after that and put up a tall score."

Jadeja added that they would try to get the tourists out early on day three 
even though "there is not much spin on the wicket".

In reply to India's mammoth first-innings 518-5 declared, opener Tagenarine 
Chanderpaul (34) and Alick Athanaze (41) offered some resistance before 
departing.

Chanderpaul edged a short-of-a-length ball from Jadeja to slip where KL Rahul 
caught it after a couple of juggles to end a 66-run second-wicket stand.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav sent back Athanaze and in the next over 
skipper Roston Chase was dismissed for a duck off Jadeja.

Hope kept up the fight after he survived a close lbw appeal, which India 
reviewed but lost as ball tracking confirmed the umpire's call.

- Freak catch -

"We know it's very challenging, but I know we have capable batters who can do 
it," West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican said.

"The wicket is turning a lot more compared to day one, so we just have to 
apply ourselves and back our ability."

In the second session, West Indies opener John Campbell fell for 10 as Sai 
Sudharsan somehow took a stunning and slightly lucky reflex catch at forward 
short-leg.

The left-handed Campbell attempted a slog sweep off Jadeja and Sudharsan 
instinctively held on to the ball with his helmet, chest and hands as he 
ducked for cover.

Gill, who started the day on 20, took on the West Indies attack with his 
classy strokeplay, hitting 16 fours and two sixes in his 10th Test century.

Gill scored three runs off left-arm spinner Khary Pierre to reach a hundred 
and raised his bat to acknowledge a raucous weekend crowd.

He and wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel, who made 44, shared 102 runs for the 
fifth wicket and put on quick runs peppered with regular boundaries after the 
lunch break to turn the screw on the West Indies.

Earlier, the left-handed Jaiswal added just two to his overnight score before 
departing after the dramatic run out.

Attempting a single after pushing the ball to mid-off, Jaiswal set off, but 
Gill had his back towards the striker and was ball-watching, and Imlach was 
quick to rattle the stumps.

Gill kept calm and put on 91 runs with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made 43 before 
Warrican got him out for his third wicket.

India are hot favourites to sweep the two-match series after winning the 
opener by an innings.