India inched closer towards another clean sweep after the West Indies lost a couple of wickets to be reduced to 145/4 in pursuit of an improbable 468 in the second and final Test in Kingston on Monday.
West Indies require another 323 runs with only six wickets, if a physically indisposed Darren Bravo comes out to bat in the later stages.
Starting the day at 45/2, the hosts were left unsettled when Bravo (23 batting) added only five runs to his overnight score before complaining of uneasiness and left the ground. He was hit on the helmet in Jasprit Bumrah's last over yesterday. Jermaine Blackwood (33*) was named a concussion substitute and went out to bat following the fall of the fourth wicket before lunch.
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He, thus, became the second concussion substitute in Tests, after Marnus Labuschagne came on for Australia's Steve Smith who, was felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer during the second Ashes Test against England. Smith retired hurt after being struck in the neck. He returned to the crease later, but was ruled out of the remainder of the Test the following morning after experiencing the effects of delayed concussion. Smith also missed the next Test.
The reason for Bravo's ill health couldn't be ascertained as a medical bulletin from the West Indies team management is expected.
Ishant Sharma (2/28) got his second wicket of the innings while Ravindra Jadeja (1/33) removed the dangerous Roston Chase but was unlucky not to have scalped Shamarh Brooks (36 batting off 84 balls) after overstepping.
Brooks was joined by a dogged Chase (12 off 36), who was ready to bring his best defensive game to the fore negotiating the troika of Jasprit Bumrah (0/22), Mohammed Shami (1/44) and Ishant Sharma safely.
However, after a 41-run stand, it was Jadeja who trapped Chase leg-before as the umpire's call upheld the on-field decision. It was a fuller delivery that was pitched on leg stump and hit Chase on the front-leg.
Shimron Hetmyer (1), who has had a nightmare of a series, didn't last long as Kohli's plan to keep a fielder at cover paid off. Birthday boy Ishant bowled one at a drivable length and the uppishly played shot was gleefully pouched by Mayank Agarwal.
Brooks, who had looked pretty solid, could have also been on his way back had Jadeja not overstepped. It was a delivery that held its line as Brooks prodded in-front and the thickish outside edge was taken by Ajinkya Rahane at first slip.
(With PTI inputs)
