Washington Sundar, India’s resourceful spinner, lauded the exceptional effort of the bowling unit in the second Test against the West Indies in Delhi. The bowlers had to work tirelessly, especially after the follow-on, bowling close to 200 overs on a pitch that offered little assistance. Sundar characterized the Arun Jaitley Stadium surface as a ‘typical Delhi pitch,’ known for its lack of bounce and minimal turn, making the feat of taking 20 wickets particularly satisfying.
India declared their first innings at 518/5, then dismissed the West Indies for 248. With a commanding lead, they enforced the follow-on. The West Indies batted determinedly in their second innings, managing to extend the game and present India with a modest target of 121. “It’s very heartening to have actually taken 20 wickets on a wicket like this,” Sundar commented after the day’s play. He elaborated on the required mindset for such conditions: “You just need to be patient and try and hit those [good] areas more consistently.” The entire bowling attack, including the pacers, was commended for their unwavering commitment throughout long spells.
Sundar also touched upon the adaptability demanded by Test cricket across different venues. “Different venues play quite differently, and that’s the beauty of this format,” he explained. “We play in a lot of different conditions, be it home or away, and obviously, all those conditions and the opposition challenge our skillsets.” India is poised for a 2-0 series win, requiring only 58 runs on the final day with one wicket down.