After Roston Chase’s West Indies side were dismantled in less than three days by India in the series opener at Ahmedabad, the visitors are likely to find more favourable batting conditions for the second and final Test in New Delhi. The match begins on October 10 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

India, led by Shubman Gill, dominated every session of the first Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The hosts wrapped up a commanding innings-and-140-run victory inside two-and-a-half days, showcasing their all-round superiority. The decision to declare early on Day 3 ensured India spent no more than eight sessions on the field, keeping their bowlers fresh for the Delhi encounter.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the pitch in Delhi will be made using black soil and is expected to favour batters for most of the match. As the game progresses and the surface begins to wear, spinners are likely to come into play, offering more balance between bat and ball.

The change marks a clear contrast from Ahmedabad’s green-top, which had a generous layer of live grass that greatly assisted India’s fast bowlers. On a red-soil pitch with about four millimetres of grass, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj made early inroads, bundling out the West Indies for just 44.1 overs in their first innings. The visitors fared little better in their second innings, lasting only 45.1 overs.

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Delhi pitch to favour batters early, with spinners set to play a role later

In comparison, the Delhi pitch is expected to feature patches of grass interspersed with bald areas, resulting in a more even contest. The outfield will be quicker, and the boundaries slightly shorter, offering batsmen greater scoring opportunities. The surface’s black-soil base is known to hold together longer, assisting stroke play early on while gradually bringing spinners into the game from Day 3 onward.

The last Test match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium took place in 2023, when India defeated Australia by six wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. That match featured a slow-turning surface that began offering considerable help to spinners as it aged.

Weather may also play a role in Delhi’s Test. Recent rainfall has kept mornings cooler and left the skies overcast in the evenings, conditions that could influence swing and seam movement early in the match.

For West Indies, this second Test offers a chance to regroup and restore some pride after their humbling in Ahmedabad. For India, it’s an opportunity to seal another home series with a statement performance, this time, perhaps on a surface more suited to run-making than destruction.