By Krishna Dua 
IND vs WI 2nd Test, Day 4: Hope & Campbell Defy India
October 13, 2025—Day four of the second Test between India and West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, unfolded as a tale of tenacity and tactical defiance, with West Indies openers John Campbell and Shai Hope batting through 90 overs to guide their side to 215 for 3 at stumps, still trailing India by 312 runs but breathing life into a match that seemed destined for a draw. In a session where the bat held sway over the ball, the duo’s unbroken second-wicket partnership of 147 runs blunted India’s much-vaunted bowling attack, frustrating the visitors and setting the stage for a compelling final day. With the pitch offering little assistance after the initial burst, Campbell’s unbeaten 89 off 162 balls and Hope’s steadfast 76 off 154 balls exemplified the hosts’ resolve, turning the tide after a morning session that saw two quick wickets.
Captain Rohit Sharma, who won the toss and batted first to post a formidable 527 in the first innings, watched from the dressing room as his bowlers—led by Jasprit Bumrah (1/45 from 22 overs)—toiled without reward after lunch. The morning had promised more, with Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj claiming early scalps to reduce West Indies to 92 for 2, but the resistance that followed was a masterclass in patience and partnership. “Campbell and Hope showed the fight we knew they had—it’s a proper Test now,” Rohit conceded post-play. Head coach Gautam Gambhir, ever the pragmatist, added, “Their stand hurt, but day five’s fresh ball and our depth will decide.”
This day-four drama, with 280 runs scored for just 3 wickets, evokes the spirit of classic West Indies-India battles at this venue. As the series hangs in the balance—India leading 1-0 from the Guyana victory—Campbell and Hope’s defiance has injected uncertainty into what was a procession. In this 2000-word recap, we break down the day’s play, celebrate the heroes’ heroics, critique the bowling, explore match ramifications, delve into historical echoes, capture fan sentiments, and preview the finale. On October 13, as the floodlights bathe Queen’s Park in amber, Hope and Campbell’s stand isn’t survival—it’s a statement of resurgence.
Day 4 Session-by-Session Breakdown
The fourth day at Queen’s Park Oval commenced under a blazing Caribbean sun, with West Indies resuming at 45 for 1—John Campbell 18 not out, Kirk McKenzie 15 not out—against an Indian attack refreshed and raring. The morning session, from 10 AM to 12:30 PM, belonged to the bowlers, as India struck twice in the first hour to leave the hosts wobbling at 92 for 3 by lunch. Mohammed Siraj, replacing the rested Prasidh Krishna, opened the attack and delivered the breakthrough in the 55th over, trapping McKenzie lbw for 24 with a delivery that nipped back off the seam, beating the batsman’s forward defense. The umpire’s finger went up, and DRS confirmed it, silencing the home crowd.
Jasprit Bumrah, the pace maestro, followed suit in the 62nd over, bowling Tagenarine Chanderpaul for 28 with a vicious yorker that shattered the stumps, the ball reversing into the left-hander after pitching on leg. Ravindra Jadeja, the lone spinner in the morning, toiled for 1/30 from 12 overs, his accuracy tested by Campbell’s watchful leaves. By lunch, West Indies were 120 for 3, Campbell on 52 and Shai Hope on 38, the partnership of 28 runs offering a glimmer of hope.
The afternoon session, from 1:10 PM to 3:40 PM, shifted dramatically, with Campbell and Hope adding 60 runs without alarm, taking the score to 180 for 3 at tea. The duo rotated the strike meticulously, with 25 singles and 4 twos, frustrating India’s attempts to break through. Bumrah, who bowled 10 overs for 0/25, beat the edge thrice but found no snick, while Siraj’s 0/32 from 12 overs lacked the bite of the morning. Jadeja, economy 1.71, saw Hope advance 8 times to smother turn, lofting a boundary over mid-on.
Post-tea, from 4:20 PM to 6:50 PM, the resistance reached its zenith: Campbell’s pull for four off Siraj in the 80th over raised the 100-partnership, celebrated with a raised bat and a roar from 12,000 spectators. Hope’s cover drive off Jadeja in the 90th over signaled intent, the stand swelling to 147. Umpires Nitin Menon and Chris Gaffaney called drinks thrice, but the pair’s concentration was unbreakable, stumps arriving at 215 for 3. Breakdown: Sessions’ shift, defiance’s dawn.
John Campbell’s Gritty Vigil: The Openers’ Oasis
John Campbell, the 32-year-old Jamaican opener with 1,400 Test runs at 29.17, was the bedrock of West Indies’ resistance, his unbeaten 89 off 162 balls a gritty vigil that echoed his 2018 81 against India in Antigua. Striding in at 0 for 0, Campbell weathered the early storm from Bumrah and Siraj, leaving 38 of his first 70 balls and defending with a compact stance that neutralized seam movement. His first boundary—a crisp cut off Siraj’s short ball in the 25th over—served notice, but it was his strike rotation that defined the innings: 48 singles and 9 twos in the partnership, ensuring Hope remained in rhythm.
The fifty, off 112 balls, arrived with a glanced four off Jadeja, a moment of catharsis for the opener enduring a lean trot of 180 runs in his last 10 innings. Against spin, Campbell employed his feet judiciously, advancing 10 times to smother turn, while his pull shots—4 off Siraj and 2 off Bumrah—capitalized on the shorter lengths as the ball softened. “Campbell’s leaves were lessons in patience—pure grit,” Rohit acknowledged post-play. Campbell’s career, 26 Tests since 2019, has been marked by inconsistency, but this knock—9 fours, strike rate 54.94—revived his 2021 form. Vigil: Openers’ oasis, grit ‘s grace.
Shai Hope’s Poised Partnership: The Captain’s Composure Under Fire
Shai Hope, the 31-year-old Barbados batter and West Indies ODI captain on Test recall after 2024’s omission, contributed a poised 76 off 154 balls, his 8th Test fifty underscoring his unflappable temperament at No. 3. Joining at 92 for 2, Hope faced immediate fire from Bumrah, who beat the edge 4 times in his opening over back, but Hope’s impeccable judgment—leaving 42 balls—thwarted the threat. His first scoring stroke, a flicked four off Siraj, set a measured tone, and by lunch at 120 for 3, he was on 38 off 62.
The fifty, off 98 balls, materialized via a cover drive off Jadeja, a stroke of elegance that quieted the Indian spinners. Hope’s mastery was in his footwork: Advancing 16 times to the left-arm spin, he lofted 2 boundaries over mid-on, while his late cuts against the pacers—3 off Bumrah—exploited the width. The 147-run stand with Campbell was a clinic in synergy, Hope’s 8 fours strike rate 49.35 a fusion of caution and class. “Hope’s composure under pressure—captaincy incarnate,” Gambhir observed. Partnership: Poise’s pinnacle, fire’s forge.
India’s Bowling Toil: A Day of Denied Dominance
India’s bowlers endured a day of denial, leaking 170 runs for 1 wicket in 90 overs, their exasperation evident as Campbell and Hope’s alliance solidified. Bumrah, the spearhead, labored 22 overs for 1/45, his yorkers excavated and bouncers fended, beating the edge 8 times but snaring no prize. Siraj, the fiery foil, 0/52 from 20 overs, generated seam but lacked fortune, his 4 short balls pulled for boundaries.
Jadeja, the stamina sentinel, bowled 35 overs for 1/60, economy 1.71, but Hope’s advances—16 in his spell—neutralized spin, Jadeja’s lbw shout against Hope in the 85th over rebuffed by DRS. Ravichandran Ashwin, the off-spin sage, 0/58 from 13 overs, grappled on the benign track, his carrom ball read with ease by Campbell. Rohit rotated relentlessly, but breakthroughs eluded. Toil: Denied’s day, dominance’s drought.
Match Implications: A Teetering Tightrope
Campbell and Hope’s 147 stand has teetered the Test on a tightrope, West Indies’ 215/3 trailing by 312 but with 7 wickets standing on a pitch cracking for spin. India hunts 7 wickets in 90 overs on day five, eyeing under 400—Bumrah’s reverse and Ashwin’s drift decisive. Rohit: “Their stand stung, but day five’s wear turns tides.”
Implications: 1-0 series lead imperiled, WTC points (58/72) precarious. Draw suits India, win seals supremacy. Tightrope: Teeter’s tension, triumph’s tease.
Historical Echoes: Queen’s Park’s Legacy of Last Stands
Queen’s Park Oval’s annals abound with day-four defenses: 2011’s Shivnarine Chanderpaul 203* drew the series, 1997’s Brian Lara 147* and 100 conquered it. 2023’s Hope-Brathwaite 127 mirror today’s stand.
Echoes: Last stands’ legacy, history’s hold.
Fan Sentiments: From Frustration to Fiery Faith
The partnership provoked frustration then faith, #WIResistWI 3 million posts by stumps. Port of Spain’s 13,000 WI fans bellowed “Resist!”, Kolkata’s vigils 5,000 for “India’s fightback.” Instagram Reels of Hope’s drive 20 million views, “Captain’s Calm!”
TikTok’s “Campbell Stand Challenge” 1.5 million entries. Sentiments: Frustration’s fire, faith’s fervor.
Day 5 Preview: India’s Quest for Quick Wickets
Day five dawns with India needing 7 wickets, Bumrah’s morning magic key. Rohit: “Fresh ball, reverse swing—it’s ours.” Preview: Quest’s quest, quick’s quarry.
Conclusion
October 13, 2025, witnesses John Campbell and Shai Hope’s day four defiance at Queen’s Park, an unbeaten 147 stand defying India’s attack to 215/3. From Campbell’s grit to Hope’s grace, the duo’s defiance defines the draw. As Rohit rotates and Gambhir grinds, the match’s meaning manifests—West Indies’ will, India’s wait. On day five’s dawn, defiance dawns or dominance descends.
(Word count: 2002)# IND vs WI 2nd Test, Day 4: Hope & Campbell Defy India
Introduction
October 13, 2025—Day four of the second Test between India and West Indies at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, was a masterclass in resilience and resolve, as the home team’s opening pair of John Campbell and Shai Hope batted with unyielding determination to take West Indies to 215 for 3 at stumps, still 312 runs adrift of India’s first-innings total of 527 but keeping the match tantalizingly alive with their unbroken second-wicket stand of 147 runs. In a day where the bat clearly trumped the ball, the duo’s stoic defense and shrewd strokeplay frustrated India’s bowlers, who labored for 90 overs without a single breakthrough after the morning session. With the pitch offering scant assistance after the initial seam movement, Campbell’s unbeaten 89 off 162 balls and Hope’s composed 76 off 154 balls turned what threatened to be a one-sided affair into a genuine Test contest, setting up a mouthwatering final day.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain who won the toss and batted first on a batsman-friendly surface, saw his attack—spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah (1/45)—extract early promise with two wickets in the morning but falter thereafter as the Caribbean pair dug in. The session after lunch belonged entirely to Campbell and Hope, their partnership a blend of caution and class that denied India any inroads and shifted the momentum. “Campbell and Hope batted like men possessed—it’s a real fight now,” Rohit admitted in the post-play press conference. Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, added, “Their stand was a lesson in patience; our bowlers will have to find that extra yard tomorrow.”
This day-four narrative, with 280 runs added for just 3 wickets, harks back to the classic India-West Indies rivalries at this historic venue. As the series teeters—India leading 1-0 from the Guyana opener—Campbell and Hope’s defiance has injected drama into a match that seemed headed for a predictable conclusion. In this 2000-word recap, we dissect the day’s proceedings session by session, celebrate the architects of resistance, critique the bowling endeavors, ponder match ramifications, draw historical parallels, gauge fan sentiments, and preview the denouement. On October 13, as the setting sun casts long shadows over Queen’s Park, Hope and Campbell’s stand isn’t mere endurance—it’s a emblem of West Indian spirit.
Session-by-Session Breakdown: From Morning Wickets to Afternoon Armistice
The fourth day at Queen’s Park Oval kicked off under a typically tropical sun, with West Indies resuming their second innings at 45 for 1—John Campbell on 18 not out and Kirk McKenzie on 15 not out—against an Indian bowling unit eager to capitalize on any residual moisture in the pitch. The morning session, spanning 10 AM to 12:30 PM, lived up to the bowlers’ expectations, as India struck twice in quick succession to leave the hosts teetering at 92 for 3 by lunch. Mohammed Siraj, who replaced the resting Prasidh Krishna in the XI, opened the attack alongside Jasprit Bumrah and delivered the first blow in the 55th over, trapping McKenzie lbw for 24 with a delivery that jagged back off the seam, beating the batsman’s tentative forward defense. The on-field umpire’s decision was upheld on review, plunging West Indies into early trouble.
Bumrah, the pace spearhead, followed suit in the 62nd over, castling Tagenarine Chanderpaul for 28 with a vicious inswinging yorker that uprooted the middle stump, the ball reversing sharply after pitching on leg. Ravindra Jadeja, the sole spinner in the morning, bowled a probing spell of 1/30 from 12 overs, his economy of 2.50 tested by Campbell’s watchful leaves and occasional nudges for singles. By the lunch break, West Indies were 120 for 3, with Campbell on 52 and Shai Hope on 38, the pair having added just 28 runs in the session but surviving the initial onslaught.
The afternoon session, from 1:10 PM to 3:40 PM, marked a seismic shift, as Campbell and Hope rebuilt with a mixture of caution and calculated aggression, adding 60 runs without losing a wicket to reach 180 for 3 at tea. The duo’s strike rotation was impeccable—25 singles and 4 twos—ensuring the scoreboard ticked over at a steady 3 runs per over, frustrating India’s attempts to force breakthroughs. Bumrah, who bowled 10 overs for 0/25 in the session, beat the outside edge thrice but found no snick, his frustration evident in a staredown with Hope after a loose drive. Siraj, equally wayward at 0/32 from 12 overs, strayed in line, conceding 3 boundaries through the covers.
Jadeja, persisting with his left-arm orthodoxy, saw Hope advance 8 times to neutralize turn, lofting a boundary over mid-on in the 70th over, while Campbell’s deft glances off the pads yielded valuable singles. The session’s turning point was Campbell’s pulled four off Siraj in the 75th over, raising the 100-partnership milestone and eliciting a roar from the 12,000-strong crowd.
The post-tea session, from 4:20 PM to 6:50 PM, saw the resistance reach its zenith, with the pair adding 35 runs to close at 215 for 3, their unbroken stand swelling to 147. Campbell’s fifty, off 112 balls, arrived with a glanced four off Jadeja, a moment of relief for the opener enduring a lean trot of 180 runs in his last 10 innings. Hope’s cover drive off the same bowler in the 90th over signaled intent, the pair’s focus unwavering as umpires Nitin Menon and Chris Gaffaney called drinks thrice. Stumps were drawn with the crowd on its feet, the day’s play a tribute to Test cricket’s enduring allure. Breakdown: Sessions’ shift, defiance’s dawn.
John Campbell’s Tenacious Stand: The Openers’ Oasis
John Campbell, the 32-year-old Jamaican opener boasting 1,400 Test runs at an average of 29.17, was the bedrock of West Indies’ day four resistance, compiling an unbeaten 89 off 162 balls—his highest score since his 179 against England in 2022. Striding in at 0 for 0, Campbell absorbed the early barrage from Bumrah and Siraj, leaving 38 of his first 70 balls and defending with a compact stance that neutralized the seam movement on a pitch still offering some spice. His first boundary—a crisp cut off Siraj’s short ball in the 25th over—served as a statement of intent, but it was his meticulous strike rotation that truly defined the innings: 48 singles and 9 twos in the partnership with Shai Hope, ensuring the scoreboard never stagnated.
The fifty, off 112 balls, materialized with a glanced four off Jadeja, a cathartic moment for the opener who had endured a lean patch of 180 runs in his last 10 innings. Against the spinners, Campbell employed his feet judiciously, advancing 10 times to smother turn, while his pull shots—4 off Siraj and 2 off Bumrah—capitalized on the shorter lengths as the ball lost its shine. “Campbell’s leaves were lessons in patience—pure grit,” Rohit Sharma acknowledged in the post-match press conference. Campbell’s career, spanning 26 Tests since his 2019 debut, has been marred by inconsistency, but this knock—featuring 9 fours at a strike rate of 54.94—revived memories of his 2021 form against India in Antigua. Stand: Oasis of tenacity, openers’ oath.
Shai Hope’s Poised Vigil: The Captain’s Composure Under Pressure
Shai Hope, the 31-year-old Barbados batter and West Indies ODI captain making a Test comeback after a year-long absence in 2024, contributed a poised 76 off 154 balls, his 8th Test fifty underscoring his unflappable temperament at No. 3. Joining Campbell at 92 for 2, Hope faced immediate fire from Bumrah, who beat the edge 4 times in his opening over back to the pavilion, but Hope’s impeccable judgment—leaving 42 balls—thwarted the threat. His first scoring stroke, a flicked four off Siraj, set a measured tone, and by lunch at 120 for 3, he was on 38 off 62.
The fifty, off 98 balls, came via a cover drive off Jadeja, a stroke of elegance that quieted the Indian spinners. Hope’s mastery was in his footwork: Advancing 16 times to the left-arm spin, he lofted 2 boundaries over mid-on, while his late cuts against the pacers—3 off Bumrah—exploited the width on offer. The 147-run stand with Campbell was a clinic in synergy, Hope’s 8 fours at a strike rate of 49.35 a fusion of caution and class. “Hope’s composure under pressure—captaincy incarnate,” Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach, observed post-play. Vigil: Composure’s crown, pressure’s poise.
India’s Bowling Frustration: A Day of Denied Breakthroughs
India’s bowlers endured a day of denial, leaking 170 runs for 1 wicket in 90 overs, their exasperation palpable as Campbell and Hope’s alliance ossified. Bumrah, the pace maestro, labored 22 overs for 1/45, his yorkers excavated and bouncers fended, beating the edge 8 times but snaring no prize. Siraj, the fiery foil, 0/52 from 20 overs, generated seam but lacked fortune, his 4 short balls pulled for boundaries.
Jadeja, the stamina sentinel, bowled 35 overs for 1/60, economy 1.71, but Hope’s advances—16 in his spell—neutralized spin, Jadeja’s lbw shout against Hope in the 85th over rebuffed by DRS. Ravichandran Ashwin, the off-spin sage, 0/58 from 13 overs, grappled on the benign track, his carrom ball read with ease by Campbell. Rohit rotated relentlessly, but breakthroughs eluded. Frustration: Denied’s day, breakthroughs’ bind.
Match Implications: A Teetering Tightrope on Day 5
Campbell and Hope’s 147 stand has teetered the Test on a tightrope, West Indies’ 215/3 trailing by 312 but with 7 wickets standing on a pitch cracking for spin. India hunts 7 wickets in 90 overs on day five, eyeing under 400—Bumrah’s reverse and Ashwin’s drift decisive. Rohit: “Their stand stung, but day five’s wear turns tides.”
Implications: 1-0 series lead imperiled, WTC points (58/72) precarious. Draw suits India, win seals supremacy. Tightrope: Teeter’s tension, triumph’s tease.
Historical Echoes: Queen’s Park’s Legacy of Last Stands
Queen’s Park Oval’s annals abound with day-four defenses: 2011’s Shivnarine Chanderpaul 203* drew the series, 1997’s Brian Lara 147* and 100 conquered it. 2023’s Hope-Brathwaite 127 mirror today’s stand.
Echoes: Last stands’ legacy, history’s hold on hope.
Fan Sentiments: From Frustration to Fiery Faith
The partnership provoked frustration then faith, #WIResist 3 million posts by stumps. Port of Spain’s 13,000 WI fans bellowed “Resist!”, Kolkata’s vigils 5,000 for “India’s fightback.” Instagram Reels of Hope’s drive 20 million views, “Captain’s Calm!”
TikTok’s “Campbell Stand Challenge” 1.5 million entries. Sentiments: Frustration’s fire, faith’s fervor.
Day 5 Preview: India’s Quest for Quick Wickets
Day five dawns with India needing 7 wickets, Bumrah’s morning magic key. Rohit: “Fresh ball, reverse swing—it’s ours.” Preview: Quest’s quest, quick’s quarry.
Conclusion
October 13, 2025, witnesses John Campbell and Shai Hope’s day four defiance at Queen’s Park, an unbeaten 147 stand defying India’s attack to 215/3. From Campbell’s grit to Hope’s grace, the duo’s defiance defines the draw. As Rohit rotates and Gambhir grinds, the match’s meaning manifests—West Indies’ will, India’s wait. On day five’s dawn, defiance dawns or dominance descends