Imagine a Test match in India stretching into a thrilling Day 5 – a rarity in a country where home conditions often favor the hosts. But here's where it gets controversial: when was the last time this actually happened? The answer might surprise you. It was during the opening match of the three-Test series against New Zealand in Bengaluru in 2024. Rain had washed out Day 1, and India suffered a humiliating collapse, bowled out for just 46. New Zealand, led by Rachin Ravindra’s stunning 134 off 157 balls, responded with 402 and went on to win by eight wickets. Ravindra’s exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match award, but the match itself became a talking point for its unusual duration in Indian conditions.
Fast forward to the recent second Test against the West Indies, and India found themselves in another rare situation. It was only the fourth time since 1961 that India had to bat again in a Test after enforcing the follow-on. And this is the part most people miss: West Indies, despite being dominated in the first innings with a 270-run deficit, fought back valiantly. Shai Hope scored his first Test century in eight years, and John Campbell notched his maiden Test hundred. A 79-run stand for the last wicket forced India to bat on Day 5, leaving them with just 58 runs to secure a 2-0 series sweep.
On Day 4, KL Rahul (unbeaten on 25) and Sai Sudharsan (30 from 47 balls, with five boundaries) steadied the ship after Yashasvi Jaiswal, the hero of the first innings with 175, was dismissed for eight. Though there was an option to extend play by 30 minutes, it wasn’t needed, as India closed in on victory.
The West Indies’ resilience in their second innings, where they posted 390 in 118.5 overs, was a testament to their fighting spirit. Kuldeep Yadav’s eight-wicket haul and Jasprit Bumrah’s late strike (3-44) eventually wrapped up the innings, but not before the visitors made India toil. Here’s a thought-provoking question: Does this rare Day 5 scenario signal a shift in the balance of power in Test cricket, or was it just an anomaly? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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