In the second Test against the West Indies in Delhi, Indian bowlers showcased immense patience and skill to claim 20 wickets on a surface that offered very little help. Washington Sundar, the Indian spinner, described the Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch as a ‘typical Delhi wicket’ characterized by its lack of bounce and turn, making the bowlers’ endurance and accuracy paramount.
The arduous effort involved bowling for nearly 200 overs across both innings, including the follow-on period. After India posted a commanding 518/5 declared, they restricted the West Indies to 248. The follow-on was enforced, and though the West Indies battled to set a target of 121, the Indian bowlers had to continually work hard. “It’s very heartening to have actually taken 20 wickets on a wicket like this,” Sundar mentioned. He elaborated on the bowler’s approach, emphasizing the need for consistency: “On this kind of a wicket, you just need to be patient and try and hit those [good] areas more consistently.” The collective effort, with every bowler contributing, was essential.
Sundar also spoke about the diverse nature of Test cricket and how different conditions test a team’s capabilities. “Different venues play quite differently, and that’s the beauty of this format,” he said. “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 in a commanding position, requiring only 58 runs to seal the series 2-0, with their bowlers having laid a solid foundation.