The second Test between India and the West Indies has taken an intriguing turn as the West Indies showed resilience on Day 3 after India enforced the follow-on. At the center of attention is India's captain, Shubman Gill, whose decision to enforce the follow-on has come under scrutiny following a strong fightback from the West Indies' batsmen.

India had a commanding position after posting 518/5 declared, with Yashasvi Jaiswal's 175 and Shubman Gill's own century (129*) being the highlights. Kuldeep Yadav's impressive five-wicket haul then bundled out the West Indies for 248 in their first innings, giving India a 270-run lead. This prompted Gill to enforce the follow-on, a decision typically made when a team believes it can quickly wrap up the opposition's second innings and secure a victory.

However, the West Indies responded with unexpected defiance in their second innings. After losing two early wickets, John Campbell (87) and Shai Hope (66) forged an unbroken 138-run partnership for the third wicket. This was the highest partnership for the West Indies in any Test this year. Campbell survived a few close lbw calls early in his innings, while Hope reached his fifty off Ravindra Jadeja. Their resilience ensured that the match would extend into a fourth day.

The West Indies ended day three at 173/2, still trailing by 97 runs, but having significantly reduced the deficit and, more importantly, having spent valuable time at the crease. This fightback has led to questions about whether Gill's decision to enforce the follow-on was premature. Some analysts suggest that India might have been better off batting again to further extend their lead and tire out the West Indies bowlers.

Adding to the narrative around Shubman Gill, an incident on Day 2 stirred controversy. Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 175 due to a mix-up with Gill. This led to social media criticism of Gill, with some fans blaming him for the unfortunate dismissal. Furthermore, there was a visible display of frustration from Gill towards Jaiswal on the field, requiring intervention from Dhruv Jurel to defuse the tension.

It's also worth noting that Gill faced a minor controversy during the second Test against England in July 2025. He was seen wearing a Nike vest while declaring India's second innings, which sparked debate as Adidas is the official kit sponsor of the Indian team.

As Day 4 begins, India will be aiming to break the Campbell-Hope partnership early and quickly wrap up the West Indies innings. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja will be key to India's chances. The West Indies, on the other hand, will be hoping that Campbell and Hope can continue their resistance and potentially set India a challenging target to chase in the final innings. Whether Shubman Gill's decision to enforce the follow-on proves to be a masterstroke or a miscalculation remains to be seen, making for a potentially thrilling final day of the Test match.