That wraps up the opening day of the second and final Test in New Delhi. Looking ahead to Day 2, India is expected to continue along familiar lines - batting with intent, and bat long to build a big total, unless a declaration late in the day comes in. For the West Indies, it is about putting the long day behind them and starting afresh, aiming to strike early with a couple of wickets in the initial hours. While they have shown glimpses of control, the situation calls for far greater conviction and consistency from the side. Day 2 begins on Saturday, 11th October, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 9.30 am IST (4 am GMT). Join us, then. Take care, cheers.

India's SAI SUDHARSAN, after crafting a solid 87, steps up for a quick chat with the broadcasters, speaking calmly about his innings and mindset. Begins by saying it feels good to have made a strong contribution and to have shared a crucial partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the middle. Adds that the plan now is to build a longer first innings and then look to bowl the opposition out twice to push for a strong result. Reflecting on his approach, Sai mentions that he wasn’t really thinking about scoring runs but rather about expressing himself freely. Notes that he felt more at ease in this innings, taking his time at the crease instead of rushing or forcing things to happen. Speaking with quiet gratitude, he admits that he’s happy with his knock but says there’s always that little voice in the head wanting more. Says that he wanted the century but remains thankful for what he achieved today, hoping to continue this form in the future. On Yashasvi Jaiswal, he smiles and says it’s thrilling to watch him bat from the other end. Praises Jaiswal’s ability to turn even good balls into boundaries, calling it both fascinating and pleasing to witness such shot-making up close. Further adds that there is no competition between him and Jaiswal, and he is learning a bit of the shots which can be converted into boundaries. About the pitch, he ends by saying that it can go slower and lower, as he thinks. Adds that the pitch would start to turn from tomorrow as the rough will get created, and the batting would become difficult going forward.

Jaiswal, meanwhile, continued with composed authority, while Gill settled in to craft yet another fluent fifty-plus partnership. Unlike the brisk scoring of the earlier two sessions, the runs had initially come at a more measured pace, with the occasional delivery gripping and turning to keep the batters alert. That changed in the second half of the final session, as runs began to flow freely against the new ball. Still, one constant remained - the surface retained its slow, testing nature throughout. Despite a long day in the field, West Indies showcased excellent ground fielding. Remarkably, across all 90 overs, they did not concede a single extra. But overall, it was a day of long grind for the tourists from the Caribbean with India putting up 318/2 on the board. 

An exasperated West Indies side returned to the field desperate for a breakthrough in the final session, but once again, they seemed to be waiting for the batters to err rather than forcing the issue. Their approach grew increasingly defensive, and apart from a couple of DRS calls, a dropped catch, and a few false strokes earlier in the day, there was little to lift their spirits. As the innings wore on, genuine chances all but vanished. Yet, against the rhythm of play, Warrican conjured a moment of brilliance - a delivery that ripped viciously to outfox Sudharsan, denying him a well-deserved maiden Test hundred.

The second session was all about young Indian southpaws consolidating good starts. Yashasvi Jaiswal brought up a meticulously crafted century, while Sai Sudharsan grew increasingly assured with every passing delivery. India’s scoring rate soared, amassing 126 runs in 30 overs without the loss of a wicket. West Indies bowlers, despite their efforts, lacked penetration and conviction, often leaking boundaries at regular intervals, an emblem of their mounting frustration. The spinners failed to extract meaningful purchase from the surface, and Sai’s reprieve on 58 only deepened the visitors’ woes, signalling a long and laborious grind in the field.

India opted to bat first, on a pitch where runs were written in bold and capital R. The first session in Delhi was a cautious yet steady one for India, with the openers negotiating early movement and swing with patience and determination against a disciplined start by Seales and Phillip. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal saw through the testing period, both surviving nervy moments, but gradually found their rhythm. The black-soil pitch offered little bounce, staying slow and low at times, while the spinners extracted some turn from the bare patches, claiming KL Rahul’s wicket through a stumping. Jaiswal, after a slow start, settled in and looked confident, while Sai Sudharsan got a solid start in a crucial innings. West Indies used all their bowling resources, but the batters handled them with caution.

A day bossed up by the Indians in every sense, underlined by Yashasvi Jaiswal's marathon unbeaten knock of 173. In the final session, 32 overs were bowled and India scored 98 runs by losing just a single wicket, of Sai Sudharsan. On the other hand, it was an extremely exhausting day for West Indies. They struggled to find solutions to the relentless Indian onslaught and were comprehensively outplayed from start to end.

Alrighty then. The final over of the day coming up. Jomel Warrican (19-2-60-2) will deliver the final six balls of Day 1.

Only 2 overs remain in the day's play. Anderson Phillip (12-2-43-0) to continue.