India's captain Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel run between the wickets on day two of the second and final Test cricket match of a series between India and West Indies, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, in New Delhi, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Shubman Gill cruised to his 10th hundred as India decided to declare at a sizeable first innings score of 518 for five one hour into the post-lunch session on the second day of the second Test here.
By the time tea was called, West Indies reached 26 for 1 in 11 overs. Opener John Campbell was back in the hut after his full blooded sweep shot off Ravindra Jadeja found Sai Sudharsan, who tried to defend himself as the ball was about to ram into his chest.
It did thud into his right knuckle and stayed put, leaving Campbell stunned.
The skipper didn't go for personal glory once Dhruv Jurel (44 off 79 balls) was cleaned up while trying to pull Roston Chase.
There was enough time for Gill (129 not out) to complete a double hundred but stacking numbers against a below-par bowling attack would have counted for little in long run. It was about one hour into second session and Gill got a signal from the dressing room that it is about time to put the visitors in for an awkward hour.
The skipper, who faced 196 deliveries, hit 16 boundaries and two sixes and added 102 for the fifth wicket with Jurel, who decided to up the ante after lunch. India on the second day batted for 44.2 overs and added 200 runs to the overnight score of 318 for 2. Gill's century came with a cut shot off Khary Pierre that got him three runs. With his fifth century in last seven Tests apart from a half-century in the previous game, the skipper showed that the batter in him hasn't exactly been affected. Even as Yashasvi Jaiswal (175, 258 balls) was unfortunately run-out at the start of the day, Gill's concentration didn't waver as he controlled the tempo of the game as per his will.
When the field was brought up, he would hit over the top. If the West Indies skipper Chase packed the off-side field, Gill inevitably played on the on-side.
Once a flurry of boundaries were hit, Chase was forced to keep a deep point and a deep square leg to cut down on boundaries. That helped him use the wide gaps to take those singles and doubles.
With Nitish Kumar Reddy (43 off 54 balls), promoted to get some valuable batting time and prop up the score in quick time, Gill added 91 for the fourth wicket with him in just 17.1 overs.
The best shot of the morning session and that too by a distance was the one that brought up Gill's second fifty of the series.
With a packed off-side field, Jayden Seales bowled on middle-leg with Gill flicking it through the vacant mid-wicket region. When Justin Greaves was brought into the attack, his lack of pace allowed Gill to step out and loft him over mid-wicket for his first six.
Gill, who had decided to defend during the final hour of the opening day, came out with a different mindset. It only helped that Anderson Phillip sprayed all over and was hit for a flurry of boundaries. A delivery on the pads was quickly dispatched behind square on the leg-side.
In his next over, Phillip was cut square of the wicket -- one a bit late behind square and the other in-front with same intent that produced same result. There was an on-drive and when the keeper was brought up to the stumps with '7-2' off-side field, he stepped out and hit over extra cover.
The only possible mode of dismissal for Jaiswal (175) seemed to be a run-out, and Gill could be held partly responsible as it was Jaiswal's call after he had pushed the ball slightly to the right of mid-off.