West Indies, led by an unbeaten Shai Hope, stretched the second Test against India into a fourth day, frustrating the hosts' push for an innings victory. At lunch on Day 4, Hope, 92* and Roston Chase 23* were at the crease, continuing the fightback after India had enforced the follow-on. The resistance came after West Indies were bundled out for 248 in their first innings in reply to India’s 518/5 declared.
The foundation was laid on the evening of Day 3 by Hope and John Campbell, who put on a crucial 138-run partnership. Campbell and Hope batted through the entire final session, ensuring West Indies ended the day on 173/2, trailing by 97 runs. The half-centuries were personal milestones; it was the first fifty by a West Indian on the tour and Hope's first in 31 Test innings, a drought stretching back to 2019.
Earlier, India’s bowlers experienced a day of mixed fortunes. Kuldeep Yadav was the chief architect of the West Indian first-innings collapse, claiming a five-wicket haul to help bowl them out for 248. However, when West Indies batted a second time, the pitch did not deteriorate as India had expected. It slowed down considerably, making it difficult for the spinners to generate pace and turn, which allowed the visiters to play with more confidence.
The effort worled as a morale booster for the visitors, who won their first session of the series. West Indies spinner Khary Pierre said, “This is the first time we have been able to win a session in the two Test matches so far. You know, it’s about application, I think the lower-order showed a little bit of fight... that is what the message was going out to bat.” Conversely, India's camp acknowledged the challenge. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate explained the decision to enforce the follow-on, stating, “We felt 275 was a good lead. We thought the wicket would keep deteriorating. But it has slowed down even more... Campbell and Hope batted beautifully.”
The West Indian fight came after India declared at 518/5, a total built on centuries from captain Shubman Gill and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal's 175. After bundling the visitors out cheaply in the first innings, India looked set to wrap up the match quickly, especially after reducing West Indies to 35/2 in their second innings. However, the resistance has ensured the match remains alive, with West Indies batting to save the game.