Inching closer to a series thumping in New Delhi on Monday, India finished day four of the second Test at 63 for 1, 58 runs short of victory.
India lost opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (8) early in the 121-run chase, but KL Rahul (25 batting) and Sai Sudharsan (30 batting) kept the hosts on track for victory.
India had won the first Test in Ahmedabad by an innings and 140 runs to take a 1-0 series lead.
Earlier, India were set a target of 121 runs to win after the West Indies were bowled out for 390 in the closing session of the fourth day, with Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav taking three wickets each.
After the West Indies were reduced from 212/2 to 311/9, India was held at bay on both sides of the tea break by a strong 79-run partnership for the 10th wicket between Jayden Seales (32) and Justin Greaves (50 not out).
West Indies were bowled out for 390 when Seales was dismissed by Bumrah (3/44) for the last wicket of the innings.
In their last outing of this tour, the visitors put on their greatest batting display. They were supported by hundreds from opener John Campbell (115) and Shai Hope (103), who also added 177 runs for the third wicket to spearhead the recovery.
In the post-lunch session, Indian bowlers found their groove again. Mohammed Siraj struck a crucial blow with the second new ball, and Kuldeep Yadav tore through the lower-middle order to put the hosts in a winning position.
Two centuries and making India bat for the second time would be the West Indies’ only solace from this match.
In order to guarantee a completion within four days, Kuldeep, Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj, and Jadeja all contributed with key dismissals in a full bowling effort.
In the morning, John Campbell hit a slog sweep six off Ravindra Jadeja over cow corner to reach his first-ever Test hundred in 25 outings.
Since there was no sting in the track, the pair’s easiest task was to play spinners. They were batting comfortably until Campbell had a brain fade.
Campbell attempted an audacious reverse sweep, but DRS declared him leg-before on a track where the majority of left-arm spinner deliveries are placed on the leg-middle line.
Even Campbell’s dismissal was inconsequential because Hope and captain Roston Chase (40) appeared at ease throughout their 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket. With a difficult fourth innings total, it appeared that the West Indies could be able to match it.
But despite the track’s complacent character, Bumrah and Siraj tested Hope with a few short balls once the new ball was taken after the 80th over.
Siraj sent down a fast delivery that didn’t bounce enough for Hope to play on to his stumps. Kuldeep then took three quick wickets, including Chase’s, as the West Indies faced an impending loss.
