The decision by India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, and captain, Shubman Gill, to enforce the follow-on against the West Indies in the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi has triggered a wave of criticism, despite India being in a strong position to win the match. After India posted a formidable 518/5 declared, they bowled out the West Indies for 248 in their first innings. However, instead of making the West Indies bat again, some critics suggested India should have continued batting to completely shut the opposition out of the game.

The West Indies responded resiliently in their second innings, led by centuries from John Campbell and Shai Hope. This fightback not only avoided an innings defeat but also forced India to bat again, ending India's impressive streak of winning eight consecutive Tests by an innings after enforcing the follow-on.

The decision to enforce the follow-on has been described as "stupid" by some fans, who felt that India underestimated the West Indies' batting capabilities. Criticism has been directed at Gautam Gambhir, with some questioning his coaching abilities, while others have targeted Shubman Gill for his decision-making on the field. Some social media users didn't hold back, with some suggesting Gill should be sacked.

Adding to the debate, West Indies spinner Khary Pierre admitted that he was surprised by India's decision to enforce the follow-on, especially considering that the pitch remained favorable for batting.

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate defended the decision, explaining that the team management expected the pitch to deteriorate significantly. He noted that the strategy was based on the assumption that the pitch would worsen, making it increasingly difficult for the West Indian batsmen in the later stages of the game. Ten Doeschate acknowledged that the last two wickets of the West Indies' first innings took longer than anticipated, prompting a discussion about whether to bat again. Ultimately, the decision was made to enforce the follow-on, believing that a lead of 275 runs was sufficient.

However, the pitch did not deteriorate as expected, and the West Indies batsmen put up a strong resistance. Campbell and Hope's partnership frustrated the Indian bowlers, who struggled to maintain their intensity. There was a visible lapse in concentration from the Indian side, with dropped catches and missed opportunities allowing the West Indies to build a substantial lead.

Despite the criticism, some voices have defended Shubman Gill. Gautam Gambhir praised Gill's leadership and the way he handled the pressure of captaincy at a young age. Gambhir also pointed out that Gill had been subjected to unfair criticism and applauded him for his resilience.

As play moved into the final day, India remained in a good position to win the Test, requiring just 58 runs with several wickets in hand. However, the West Indies' fightback had made the match more interesting, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Test cricket.