Jaiswal’s 173 not out lit up Day 1 of the second Test between India and West Indies at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, as the hosts ended the day in complete control at 318 for 2. The left-handed opener’s masterclass—his second Test century and first on home soil—has put India on course for a series clean sweep, while the visitors scramble to avoid yet another whitewash.
Table of Contents
- Jaiswal’s Century: A Statement of Intent
- Crucial Partnerships That Built the Innings
- West Indies’ Bowling Woes Continue
- What’s Next for Both Teams?
Jaiswal’s Century: A Statement of Intent
At just 22 years old, Yashasvi Jaiswal showed maturity beyond his years. Facing a West Indies attack missing its usual bite, Jaiswal mixed elegant cover drives with powerful pulls and delicate sweeps—scoring at a strike rate of over 70 while never appearing rushed.
His unbeaten 173 came off 247 balls and included 22 boundaries and 2 sixes. More importantly, it came when India needed a solid foundation after winning the toss—a rare luxury for new captain Shubman Gill, who had lost six consecutive tosses before this match.
Crucial Partnerships That Built the Innings
Jaiswal didn’t do it alone. After Rohit Sharma fell cheaply for 14, Sai Sudharsan walked in and stitched together a 156-run second-wicket stand with Jaiswal. Sudharsan, playing only his third Test, looked composed and contributed a fluent 62 before being caught behind off spinner Kevin Sinclair.
Captain Shubman Gill then joined Jaiswal and added an unbroken 44-run stand before stumps, finishing the day on 23*. With both openers set and the pitch offering little assistance to bowlers, India is well-positioned to post a massive total.
West Indies’ Bowling Woes Continue
The Caribbean side’s bowling attack looked toothless on a flat Delhi track. Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales struggled to extract bounce or movement, while spinners Gudakesh Motie and Sinclair were milked for runs in the middle overs.
Coach Daren Sammy later admitted the pitch was “not ideal for our strengths,” but also conceded that execution was poor. “We dropped a couple of chances early, and against a player like Jaiswal, you can’t afford that,” he said in the post-stumps press conference.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
For India, the goal is clear: secure a 2-0 series victory and continue building momentum ahead of the World Test Championship cycle. With Jaiswal in sublime form and the middle order—including Virat Kohli and KL Rahul—yet to bat, a 500+ total looks likely.
West Indies, meanwhile, are fighting to avoid their third consecutive Test series whitewash in India. Their batting lineup, led by Kraigg Brathwaite and Shamar Joseph, will need to show far more resilience than they did in Rajkot if they hope to compete.
As the sun set over New Delhi, one thing was certain: Jaiswal’s innings wasn’t just about runs—it was a declaration of India’s rising batting dominance.