Delhi, October 10, 2025 – In a moment of palpable relief and amusement, Shubman Gill won his first toss as India's Test captain during the second Test against the West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. After a string of six consecutive losses, including five in England and one in the first Test against the West Indies in Ahmedabad, the coin finally landed in his favor. Gill's win at the toss saw smiles and playful banter from head coach Gautam Gambhir and teammates Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja.
Gill's journey to his first toss win equaled Tom Latham's unfortunate record of six consecutive losses before a win. Bevan Congdon of New Zealand holds the record for most toss losses before a win, with seven.
Having won the toss, Gill elected to bat first, citing the pitch conditions as favorable for batting on the first day. He emphasized the importance of consistency and maintaining the same intensity throughout the match. "We will bat first, the wicket looks good to bat on Day 1," Gill said after the toss. "Consistency is the key for us. To be able to repeat performances and to have the same intensity in every match that we play".
The West Indies made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Tevin Imlach and Anderson Phillip in place of Brandon King and Johann Layne. West Indies captain Roston Chase said that his team aimed to bat for a full day of 90 overs.
India, leading the two-match series 1-0 after a dominant victory in the first Test, fielded an unchanged XI. The team is eager to secure a clean sweep against the West Indies. Gill had previously stated his intention to guide India to four wins in the home Test season.
Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, has been a vocal supporter of Gill's captaincy. He has previously dismissed criticism of Gill, asserting that those who doubt him lack an understanding of the game. Gambhir lauded Gill's leadership after India's series-levelling victory against England, suggesting a long-term leadership role for the young captain in red-ball cricket.
The match also marks a significant opportunity for India's pace duo, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, to further develop their partnership ahead of upcoming international tours and home series.
Playing XIs:
- India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
- West Indies: John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Roston Chase (c), Tevin Imlach (wk), Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Khary Pierre, Anderson Phillip, Jayden Seales.
As the day progressed, India's openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, started cautiously, aiming to build a solid foundation. Anil Kumble signaled the start of the second Test by ringing the ceremonial bell.
