All-round performances help India win test series 2-0; Test Championship campaign off to a flying start

Hyderabad: India won the second test by 257 runs as the Indian bowling attack ran through the windies to bundle them up for 210 to win the series, 2-0. India earned 120 points as well as the first place on the points table of the World test Championship.

Jason Holder won the toss and put India in to bat as Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli and to everyone's surprise, Ishant Sharma scored half-centuries. Hanuma Vihari scored his maiden test century as India were bowled out for 416 in the first innings. Jason Holder was the pick of the Windies bowlers as he picked up five wickets, debutant Rahkeem Cornwall picked three wickets.

The West Indies openers walked out only to fall prey to Jasprit Bumrah's bowling master class as he became only the third Indian bowler to take a test Hat-trick. He got DM Bravo, Shamar Brooks and Roston Chase out in the 9th over to achieve this magnificent feat. Captain Virat Kohli also had a vital role to play as he called for a review on the Hat-trick ball of Jasprit Bumrah which was eventually successful.

Bumrah rattled the windies all over as they were bundled out for a mere 117 in the first innings with India having a massive lead of 299 runs in the second innings.

Virat decided not to enforce the follow-on and chose to bat in the second innings. It was a disastrous start for India as Virat Kohli was caught behind for a golden duck by Kemar Roach who missed out on a Hat-trick by a whisker.

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari took charge of the innings as they scored half-centuries each and took India's lead to over 450. Virat Kohli decided to declare the innings at 168/4.

Thus India set a mountain target of 468 for the windies to win the second test. They were off to a decent start as Ishant Sharma, and Shami got a wicket each to end the third day's play at 45/2. The fourth day was clear to both sides. India needed eight wickets. Windies required 323 runs to win.

The Indian bowlers were on a roll as they picked two quick wickets as Darren Bravo was hit on the head by a Jasprit Bumrah Bouncer which resulted in West Indies calling in Blackwood as the concussion substitute for Darren Bravo. This was the second time in tests where a team has needed a concussion substitute. The first instance was when Marnus Labuschgane was called in as Steve Smith's concussion substitute in the second Ashes Test.

The Indian bowlers continued their dominant run as Shami and Jadeja picked three wickets each as Bumrah picked 1 and Ishant picked two wickets. Virat Kohli's brilliance in the field resulted in a run-out as the Windies were bowled out for 210, thereby winning the test by 257 runs and the series by 2-0.

This has made Virat Kohli the most successful Indian captain in test matches with 28 wins, surpassing MS Dhoni who had 27 wins under his belt.

India also gained 120 points from the two tests and reached the top of the World test Championship's points table.

On being asked about how he feels on becoming India's most successful test captain, Virat Kohli said, "Captaincy is just a 'C' in front of my name. It's the entire team effort which wins us matches."