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Unlike the red-soil wicket used in the first Test, which had a uniform layer of live grass and produced prodigious movement for the pacers, the Delhi pitch will feature a black-soil base with irregular patches of grass and bare spots. The surface is likely to start out firm and true for batting before gradually bringing the spinners into play as the game progresses.Curators expect the pitch to offer consistent bounce early on, allowing batters to play through the line, while the black soil’s natural tendency to dry and crack could make conditions more challenging in the later stages. The outfield, known for its speed, and the relatively shorter boundaries are also expected to aid stroke-makers, promising a high-scoring affair in contrast to the seam-friendly conditions seen in Ahmedabad.

The visitors will be eager to bounce back after their crushing defeat in the series opener, where they were bowled out for 150 and 125 in just over 90 overs across both innings. That match, played on one of India’s greenest Test pitches in recent memory, saw Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj exploit the bounce and movement to devastating effect, as India sealed victory by an innings and 140 runs within three days.

The focus now shifts to how the West Indies batters adapt to more benign conditions in Delhi, while India’s spinners — led by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja — will be eyeing opportunities once the surface begins to wear.The last Test at this venue, during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, also ended inside three days, though that game was played on a slow turner that eventually favoured India’s spin duo.