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India vs West Indies: Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar was full of praise for the bowling performance put up by the hosts to take 20 wickets on a slow track at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, calling it 'very encouraging.' West Indies batted well to stretch the game on Day 5 before Kuldeep Yadav added to his impressive first-innings figures of 5-82 by claiming three more wickets in the second innings, while Jasprit Bumrah also took three wickets to dismiss the West Indies for 390 in the final session on Day 4.

At stumps on Day 4, India are at 63/1 after 18 overs, requiring 58 more to win.

“On this kind of a wicket, you just need to be a lot patient and try and hit those areas more consistently and that’s the only challenge. But obviously, it’s good to be bowling long spells and very heartening to have actually taken 20 wickets on a wicket like this. All of the bowlers bowled really well, even the fast bowlers – they bowled their heart out in every single spell. So it’s very heartening despite it being slow throughout the game, I’d say,” said Sundar in the post-day press conference.

West Indies batters John Campbell and Shai Hope brought up their individual centuries, which provided strength to their team's resistance in adverse conditions.

“Honestly, Campbell and Hope played really well. They took their chances. Once the field was spread out, they were really sensible with their game as well. They batted really well, both of them.”

“But the conversation for us was to be really patient and bowl those good deliveries no matter what because that’s exactly what’s required from us. The result is something that’s not in our control, especially on such a wicket. But to bowl those good deliveries consistently and to keep coming in spells after spells and try and be really fresh and give our efforts every single spell is something that we’re required to do. I think all of us did that really well.”

It’s very rare for Tests in India to go into the fifth day with the hosts’ bowlers being made to toil hard under the bright New Delhi sky. They were on the field for exactly 200 overs since mid of day two, highlighting the physical demands of Test cricket on surfaces that offer little for bowlers.

“One thing for sure is that we’ve got to be really fit and on top of our game in that aspect. In Test cricket, you honestly expect that, as most of the Test matches to go until the fifth day and challenge you in every way possible. So it’s definitely not surprising at all in this format. Yes, it’s exciting to be a part of this format and to be playing some very good cricket, especially at the highest level,” added Sundar.

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England series made us understand what it likes to be on field for 5 days: Sundar 

“I mean, the England series definitely made us understand what it actually feels like to be on the field for five days.”

“Because even in England, we fielded for about 180-200 overs every game. So, this definitely isn’t something very new to us. A lot of you also would have liked it if the game had been over today. But Jaiswal did his best. On another day, we would have definitely finished it today.”

While many felt that the Indian bowlers could have applied more pressure on the West Indies batters, especially on the last wicket pair of Justin Greaves and Jayden Seales, Sundar insisted the hosts did try changing angles and lines to dismiss them quickly.

“I mean, I’d say we did quite a few different things depending on the batsman. To some of the batsmen, we tried to bowl a little wider and hit the rough. For some players, we tried to be really straight as much as possible and bring the stumps into play.”

“I mean, it’s more to do with what kind of batsman there were at the crease and eventually try and bowl to his not-so-strengths and try and make him play as many balls over there and eventually pick wickets over there. I mean, I think we were really patient throughout and we bowled a lot of good deliveries throughout the game. So, I’d say it was a great effort from all of us.”

Sundar further credited Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist spin, fetching eight scalps, for making a difference on a slow pitch. “I think he bowled really well in both innings. We hit those areas really well. Being a wrist spinner, he probably got a bit of purchase here and there as well, and that definitely helped.”

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“But yes, I think all the bowlers bowled really well. Even the quicks bowled their heart out. Every single spell they came out to bowl, they bowled really well and their heart out. So yes, as I said, it’s really heartening to take 20 wickets in this way.”

Inputs from IANS