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India Test captain Shubman Gill has offered a detailed explanation of his decision to enforce the follow-on during the second Test against the West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi — a move that stirred mixed reactions among fans. While India eventually clinched a 2-0 series victory with a seven-wicket win, the strategy drew attention as enforcing a follow-on has become an uncommon sight in recent Test cricket.
India pile up massive first-innings total
After winning the toss, Gill opted to bat first on a flat, batting-friendly surface. The Indian top order made the most of the conditions, with Yashasvi Jaiswal continuing his superb run by hammering 175 runs. Sai Sudharsan played a composed knock of 87, while captain Gill anchored the innings with an unbeaten 129. Their efforts took India to a commanding 518/5 before the declaration came late on Day 2.
In response, the West Indies struggled to build partnerships. Despite brief resistance from Alick Athanaze, the visitors folded for 248. With a hefty 273-run advantage, India had the option to bat again and stretch the lead. However, Gill surprised many by asking the opposition to follow on — a decision that sparked debate both inside the commentary box and among fans online.
The rare follow-on call
Modern captains have generally avoided enforcing follow-ons, preferring instead to rest bowlers and pile on a massive fourth-innings target. Many fans felt that India’s fast bowlers, having bowled more than 80 overs in the first innings, deserved recovery time. Critics questioned whether the call was too aggressive given the workload of the bowling unit.
The risk did not paid off well as Windies showed the fightback. The visitors went on to post 390, giving India a target of 121 runs. Opener John Campbell (115) and middle-order batter Shai Hope (103) shined with the bat. Both stars smashed tremendous centuries and stood tall against a top quality bowling attack of India. Though, India managed to get over easily by chasing down the target on Day 5 with 7 wickets in hand.
Shubman Gill explains his decision of enforcing follow-on
After the win, Gill explained that the decision was driven by match situation and time management. He explained that with India already nearly 300 runs ahead, batting again could have made the final day challenging, as they might have needed to take six or seven wickets under pressure late on Day 5. Instead, by enforcing the follow-on, India kept the initiative, capitalizing on the confidence and energy of their bowlers to attack immediately. Gill emphasized that when the team’s momentum is high, it is better to press for a decisive result rather than allow the match to drift, showing a proactive and aggressive approach to leadership.
“We were almost 300 runs ahead. We thought if we batted again and had to chase wickets late on Day 5, it could make things difficult. We wanted to stay on the front foot and finish the game early. The bowlers were confident and wanted another go right away. When the energy is high, it’s better to attack than let the game drift,” said Gill during the post-match presentation.
The 24-year-old’s captaincy has already started turning heads for its proactive and fearless nature. His decision to enforce the follow-on showcased tactical boldness, and his own century with the bat underlined his growing stature as a leader. India’s convincing win not only secured the series sweep but also marked the beginning of a promising chapter under Gill’s leadership in red-ball cricket.
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