Despite a 2-0 series defeat to India, West Indies showed marked improvement in the second Test at Delhi, giving a much better account of themselves compared to the first Test in Ahmedabad. Skipper Roston Chase described the effort as a “stepping stone” for the team to develop as a competitive Test-playing nation.
Chase praised the team’s resilience, especially after India enforced the follow-on on Day 3. The West Indies fought hard to set India a 121-run target, extending the match to Day 5 on a relatively benign pitch. “This is the performance that will give us confidence and belief that we can compete against strong Test-playing nations,” Chase said.
He emphasized the importance of losing positively, stating that even in defeat, lessons can be learned to build confidence in the dressing room. “Even if it’s a loss, we have to lose in a good way, where there are many positives coming out of the game,” he added.
The West Indies’ batting showed improvement, scoring 248 in Delhi compared to 162 in Ahmedabad. Chase highlighted that strengthening their batting in the first innings is crucial to competing effectively in the World Test Championship (WTC). “Once we post strong first-innings totals, we can fight for more victories,” he noted.
Chase acknowledged the challenges of captaining against top-ranked teams, having faced Australia and India early in his tenure, with New Zealand still to play in 2025. Looking ahead to 2026, he believes the team can be more competitive against opponents like Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
He also pointed out the limitations of a short two-Test series, noting that it restricts the opportunity to build consistency. Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir also lauded the grit and determination shown by the West Indies batsmen, emphasizing the importance of West Indies cricket on the global stage.
“The way they fought in the second innings will give them confidence moving forward,” Gambhir said, acknowledging the progress of the young and inexperienced Caribbean side.
