KL Rahul’s calm and calculated fifty guided India to a convincing seven-wicket win over the West Indies on the final day of the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday. His unbeaten 58 off 108 balls, embellished with six boundaries and two sixes, ensured India wrapped up the match without drama and claimed the series in style.
Starting the day with India needing just 68 runs to win, Rahul made no fuss about spending a few extra overs at the crease. The morning began quietly, with the first over from Jomel Warrican being a maiden. India’s first run of the day came from Sai Sudharsan’s inside edge that trickled to fine leg, a sign of the slow and watchful start both batters adopted.
Rahul soon changed gears. After just three runs in the opening four overs, he stepped out and lofted Warrican over long off for a boundary, setting the tone. His confidence grew as he took on Khary Pierre next, striking a clean six over long on.
The West Indies tried to stifle India’s progress with an attacking umbrella field — featuring a silly point, slip, leg slip, and short leg — but Rahul and Sudharsan remained composed. Sudharsan, however, fell short of a deserved fifty when he edged Roston Chase to slip. The dismissal was as much about Shai Hope’s sharp one-handed catch to his right as it was about Sudharsan’s hard hands.
India’s tempo lifted soon after, with Shubman Gill taking on Chase and sending one soaring beyond the sight screen. Rahul, too, showcased his range by slog-sweeping Warrican over midwicket. The aggression, though, brought Gill’s downfall as he miscued a slog to short midwicket, where Justin Greaves completed a simple catch.
Rahul steadied the chase once more, reaching his fifty in 102 balls and celebrating it with a reverse sweep — a stroke that reflected both assurance and flair. New batter Dhruv Jurel wasted no time, getting off the mark with a crisp late cut past short third man.
Just over an hour into play, Rahul closed the proceedings by whipping a length ball through mid on, sealing India’s victory with poise. His unhurried approach, backed by intelligent shot selection, epitomized India’s dominance and maturity in the series clincher.
