Day 5 of a Test match is the ultimate test of skill, patience, and nerve. Yet, in India, seeing a home Test stretch to the final day has become a rare spectacle. With the recent second Test against the West Indies in October 2025 poised for a Day 5 finish, fans are asking: when was the last time this actually happened on Indian soil?
Table of Contents
- The Current Scenario: WI vs IND, 2025
- The Elusive Day 5 in Indian Stadiums
- Why the Shortage of Five-Day Thrillers?
- Historical Context: India’s Home Dominance
- Sources
The Current Scenario: WI vs IND, 2025
The ongoing second Test between India and the West Indies in Delhi has captured the cricketing world’s attention. After a resilient fightback from the visitors, featuring centuries from Shai Hope and John Campbell, India’s bowling unit—spearheaded by Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah—managed to enforce the follow-on. Now, with just 58 runs needed for victory, the match is all but over, but it has officially spilled into Day 5 . This is a significant event in itself, given the recent history of Indian home Tests.
The Elusive Day 5 in Indian Stadiums
While India’s away Tests have seen their fair share of epic, five-day battles—most notably the nail-biting fifth Test against England at The Oval in August 2025, which India won by just six runs —the story is starkly different at home.
India’s home pitches, often prepared to favor spin and quick results, have led to a string of matches concluding in three or four days. The last time a home Test in India genuinely went into Day 5 with a competitive result in the balance was a long time ago. In fact, the recent Delhi Test against the West Indies is being highlighted specifically because it has reached the final day, a testament to its rarity .
Why the Shortage of Five-Day Thrillers?
Several factors contribute to this trend:
- Pitch Preparation: Home boards often prepare pitches that offer significant assistance to their key bowlers. For India, this means dry, spinning tracks that can crumble by Day 3 or 4.
- Team Dominance: India’s formidable batting lineup at home often posts massive totals, leaving opposition teams with an uphill battle that frequently ends in an innings defeat.
- Weather & Scheduling: In a packed international calendar, a quick result can be logistically convenient.
Historical Context: India’s Home Dominance
India’s record at home in Test cricket over the last decade has been nothing short of dominant. Series wins against top teams like England (4-1 in 2024) and Australia have been built on the foundation of these result-oriented pitches . This dominance, while impressive, has come at the cost of the prolonged, strategic battles that five-day Tests are known for.
The contrast with their away performances is striking. The 2025 England tour featured a full five-Test series where the final match went down to the wire on Day 5, showcasing a different kind of cricketing challenge .
Looking Ahead
As cricket evolves, there’s a growing conversation about the balance between securing home advantage and providing fans with the complete Test match experience. The fact that the West Indies Test in 2025 has reached Day 5 is a welcome reminder of the format’s enduring drama, even if the result is a foregone conclusion.