West Indies spinner Khary Pierre admitted he was taken aback by Team India’s decision to enforce the follow-on on Day 3 of the second and final Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Despite trailing by 270 runs after being bowled out for 248 in their first innings, the visitors responded strongly, ending the day at 173/2, with John Campbell (87)* and Shai Hope (66)* leading the fightback.
“Actually, it was a bit surprising that they went back to bowl,” Pierre told reporters after play. “The wicket was still a good one, and from what I saw while batting, it wasn’t doing too much. I thought they might choose to bat again, but it’s India — they wanted to go for the win.”
Pierre acknowledged that while India’s decision was aggressive, the West Indies were determined to make the most of their second innings. “We just need to bat properly this time and make a game out of it. We’re not taking it as a big challenge — it’s about application and sticking to our plans,” he said.
The left-arm spinner also credited the lower-order resilience in the first innings, where he contributed 23 runs and shared a 46-run stand with Anderson Phillip. “It has been a challenge, but it’s also a great learning experience for me. This is only my second Test match, and I’m learning a lot about variations, patience, and how to adapt to different conditions,” Pierre noted.
Reflecting on the team’s improved performance, Pierre praised the batting approach encouraged by head coach Daren Sammy. “Application is what we’ve been preaching in the dressing room. This is the first time we’ve been able to win a session in these two Test matches, and that’s a positive sign,” he added.
Looking ahead to Day 4, Pierre expressed confidence in the platform laid by Campbell and Hope. “The two batsmen have set things up nicely for us. The wicket is still good for batting, though it might deteriorate later. Our goal is to pile on as many runs as possible and make it tough for India in the final innings,” he said.
Pierre also lauded Campbell’s effort, calling his unbeaten knock a reward for perseverance. “John has been batting really well. He’s had some tough dismissals earlier, but this innings shows his quality and patience.”
With the pitch expected to slow down and offer more turn on Days 4 and 5, Pierre remains optimistic about West Indies’ chances. “We’re in a good position now. Test cricket is all about taking it session by session. If we continue batting well, we can definitely make a game out of this,” he concluded.
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