October 11, 2025

NEW DELHI: Can a one-sided Test series still excite cricket fans? Or will the race for World Test Championship (WTC) points make Test cricket even duller? That’s the big question as the Ferzoeshah Kotla ground gets ready to host the second Test between India and West Indies from Friday. The first match in Ahmedabad was like a tied dish — very bland and one-sided. India showed why they are so strong, while West Indies looked nervous and weaker. So, people don’t expect big thrills this time either. For West Indies to surprise everyone, they need a miracle. Sadly, they don’t seem ready to stand tall against stronger teams. On the other hand, India won’t hold back because WTC points are very important. Conditions might help a bit — it’s cooler and a little damp early in October at Kotla. Still, India looks strong and West Indies shaky. The multi-day Test might throw some surprises, but that’s a big 'if.' Before the match, West Indies captain Roston Chase shared his worries, "We lack self-belief and motivation." On the flip side, India’s young star Shubman Gill explained why Test cricket should still be important even if it seems boring at times. Gill said, "It’s the ICC’s decision whether (to split Test teams) into a two-tiered system but as a cricketing nation, if your red-ball base is strong, you automatically do well in ODIs and T20s." He added that strong Test teams like England and Australia also do well in shorter cricket formats. West Indies are ranked No. 8 in Tests and No. 9 in 50-overs, while India is No. 4 and top in ODIs. Gill guessed why West Indies are struggling across formats: "Maybe their players’ focus is more on T20 and leagues. So if your focus is on that, then the base from where the game has started, when you forget that, then the struggle of any country starts from there." Captain Chase agreed about the importance of strong red-ball cricket. "Red-ball cricket is the foundation. If you can play the longer format well, it’s easier to adapt to ODIs and T20s but the reverse is tough. A strong base in redball cricket teaches you discipline, technique and temperament," he said. Chase added, "It comes down to confidence and playing enough quality first-class cricket. The more time you spend facing good bowling attacks, the more you learn to handle pressure and improve on your weaknesses. When you start your career, opponents don’t know much about you but after a few matches they pick on your flaws. It’s up to the players to identify those areas early." At Ahmedabad, West Indies couldn’t last long with the bat—just 44.1 overs in the first innings and 45.1 in the second. At Kotla, showing some real fight and surviving more overs will be their first big goal. West Indies will miss their best pacers but have added left-arm pacer Jediah Blades. But India’s strong lineup, including deep batting and spin-heavy bowling, seems ready, despite some questions on players Sai Sudharsan and Nitish Kumar Reddy. With cooler weather, the pitch might hold up, giving pace bowlers a chance early. Winning a Test is never a piece of cake, but India looks well-prepared to keep their winning streak alive.

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Tags: India vs west indies, Test cricket, World test championship, Roston chase, Shubman gill, Ferzoeshah kotla,