IND vs WI

That will be all then from this Test and this series. We never thought it would go into the fifth day but along expected lines, India have taken the honors 2-0. It's been a pleasure bringing our coverage of it all to you here on Sportskeeda and we thank you for being a part of the journey. There's a big Women's World Cup game lined up later today with New Zealand facing Sri Lanka in Colombo - do return for our coverage of that and much more on this platform while ensuring to join us on Sunday for the first Australia-India Men's ODI in Perth. For the moment, this is the duo of Pradeep and Sooryanarayanan Sesha taking your leave. Thank you so much for joining us. Goodbye and see you soon!

A series with positives aplenty for Team India. Just about every player who got an opportunity to do something, contributed in their own way. And if anything, the selection conundrum will only get tougher with Rishabh Pant expected to return for the 2-Test series against South Africa next month in Kolkata and Guwahati. There's exactly a month to go for that though and in the meantime, India will jet across to Australia for 3 ODIs and 5 T20Is starting Sunday, October 19. It's a new era of sorts that begins there as well with Gill taking charge of the one-day setup as well. But the big boys are back after a long gap of four and a half months - and all eyes will be on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli when that series does get underway this weekend.

Shubman Gill had to share the trophy in England. But he has this one all for himself as he receives it from Rajiv Shukla, the Vice President of the BCCI. He then joins his teammates and continues the tradition of handing it to the youngest/least experienced member of the team - it's the uncapped Narayan Jagadeesan who gets the trophy this time as he hoists it aloft as India bask in the glory of a 2-0 triumph! Soon after, Gill poses with head coach Gautam Gambhir for a photograph with the duo holding the trophy as Kuldeep Yadav hops in himself.

Shubman Gill [India captain]: (Getting used to being captain?) Definitely, it's a really big honor. I would say I am getting used to it, managing all the players. Getting this is a great honor. It's about taking the right option, whatever the game situation is at that time. I try and make the best possible decision in that situation. Sometimes you have to take some bold decisions on which X-factor can get you certain runs or wickets. (Reason behind enforcing follow-on?) We were around 300 runs ahead and the wicket was quite flat. So we thought even if we score 500 runs and have to get 6 or 7 wickets on Day 5 it could be tough for us, so that was the thought process. (On the usage of Nitish Kumar Reddy) We don't want many players to play only overseas - that puts a lot of pressure on them. We want to groom players to play overseas. When I'm going out there to bat, batting is something I've done since I was three years old. When you play age group cricket and excel through different levels of cricket, the one thing you strive for is how can you get the team to win a match. As a batter that's the only plan I have in mind. (Planning already for Australia or is that on Gambhir?) It's a long flight, maybe we can plan on the flight (grins).

Ravindra Jadeja is the Player of the Series for his 104 runs and 8 wickets in the series! Here's what he has to say: "(On Ashwin being not there, and he's picking up the POTS) Yeah, I could get a chance to bowl more overs. But yeah, all in all, we've been doing wonderful work as a team, you know, in terms of batting, bowling. I think we know what brand of cricket we've been playing since the last five, six months. So I think that's a good sign as a team that we continue to do it for a long period of time. (On the England tour) Yeah, I think so. As Gautam said, you got the number six. So now you're thinking as a proper batsman. And yeah, that works for me. I've been in the past batting at number eight, number nine. So my mindset was a little different to what I have right now. Yeah, I'm just trying to spend more time in the middle whenever I get a chance to bat. (On his record as an all-rounder) Yeah, to be honest, I don't think too much about records. But I need to contribute with bat and ball to my team in winning goals. So I always look forward to that. And I always think if I don't perform with the bat or balls, then it doesn't value as a player. So I think I'm always keen and I give my 100 percent. I think this is my third Man of the Series trophy. So yeah, I'm very happy to get it back home. There's loads to play in the match as well."

Kuldeep Yadav has been declared the Player of the Match for his 8-wicket match haul. Here's what he has to say: This was a totally different wicket compared to the first Test match. Bowling a lot of overs was really a challenge here. I enjoyed bowling here. In terms of the pace, the drift which I got in Ahmedabad compared to Delhi - because of the surface, the wicket was too dry. Playing back-to-back Tests is always fun. Bowling a lot of overs and getting wickets is always fun. (On getting batters bowled) When you put a lot of revs on the ball and the arm speed is great (it works). You love to get a better bowled. I enjoyed a couple of wickets in the first Test and here as well. Going to watch a few games (of football) but we hardly have time. Got a flight tomorrow. (On bowling with Jadeja) Lovely to have him around. He's someone who has always guided me in tough situations and gives me advices. 

Roston Chase [West Indies captain]: "Yeah, the positives that we had, especially in this match, would be, honestly, the two guys got hundreds and John Campbell played very well. It's the first time in a long time I had on my pass for more than an hour, so it felt good sitting and watching those two guys go out there and fight for us. And then, obviously, we batted 100 overs. It's the first time in a long time we batted 100 overs and also taking the game into the fifth day. I think that was great for us, carrying the game into the fifth day. (About the other batters) Yeah, we were always discussing and trying to find ways how we could, obviously, bat that 80 overs. And we came up with a lot of ideas in terms of batting the spin, sweeping and using your feet. So it was just for the guys to go out there and execute those plans that we spoke about. Yeah, I think that the guys that we have are some of the best players in the Caribbean. So it's just for us to use this last test match as a stepping stone and a confidence booster to go forward in the upcoming series that we may have. And just try to improve as much as we can from here. India and the West Indies go back a long way, so it's wonderful having all of you over. Yeah, it's always nice to be in India."

The positives extended into the morning for the West Indies. This time, in the form of a stellar catch from Shai Hope to dismiss a well-set Sai Sudharsan. Here's a watch!👇

Sai Sudharsan [India]: "To be honest, I've learnt a lot in these five games and I'm looking forward to improving that and obviously giving a bit more for the team. To be honest, I was very clear that he will not sweep because the wicket was a bit low. So, I thought he would not sweep. So, I was brave enough to hold my position. So, I was very lucky there. I mean about understanding the role, about understanding what a No. 3 batter has to do for a team and plays in an important game like this. So, I think learnings like that and the responsibilities and obviously a bit more risk-free batting. (On Gill winning his first series as captain)  I've played a lot with Shubby. The way he captains and the way he gives belief to the players, I think it's really great. Looking forward to having a lot more memories."

10:32 AM local time and IST: India beat West Indies by 7 wickets to take the series 2-0!

KL Rahul 58* (108) | Sai Sudharsan 39 (76)
Roston Chase 2/36 (9) | Jomel Warrican 1/39 (15.2)

When they chose to enforce the follow-on, India would not have envisioned batting again, never mind having to chase 121. A target eerily similar to the Barbados Test of 1996 but there was no Franklyn Rose to upset the Indians this time around. The pitch remained good for batting and despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's best efforts to try and wrap up the Test last evening, India were happy to return this morning and finish the job.

KL Rahul remained composed before going big whenever there was an opportunity. Sai Sudharsan was solid himself and while the day began with some quiet overs, Rahul pulled out some expansive shots to push India forward. Sudharsan soon fell to a stunning catch at slip from Shai Hope while skipper Shubman Gill entered, stepped out, smashed a couple and perished in a bid to repeat the dose. Eventually though, Rahul stayed unbeaten, notching up another fifty before finishing the job with an effortless boundary, sparking grins and smiles in the Indian camp.

Of course, there will be some questions asked as to whether India timed their declaration right in the first innings and then made the right call or not with regards to the follow-on. But they were always in pole position on a deck that did not deteriorate much and remained slow and eventually, it was a question of when and not if before they got the job done.

One must credit the West Indies as well for the fight that they showed with the bat this Test. John Campbell and Shai Hope formed the headline act with a staggering partnership of 177 for the third wicket after being asked to follow on, but Khary Pierre and Justin Greaves offered a defiant resistance in the first dig themselves before Greaves and Jayden Seales did more of the same with a 79-run last wicket stand in the second innings. For a team searching for its identity in this format in this era, these are welcome signs to build upon as much as they've sunk to their fifth defeat in as many Tests in this WTC cycle.

From India's point of view, the new era has begun promisingly. Shubman Gill has started off with a drawn series in England and a win at home over the West Indies. Not shabby at all for a man who, until not long ago, was still finding his feet in Test cricket but with the runs flowing, he has well and truly announced himself as the leader of the pack.

Rahul cleverly ensured he did not complete the run there with the ball making its way to the fence. Adds three more runs to his kitty and in the typical, effortless style with which he bats, he has finished the job. All smiles for Shubman Gill as he seals his first series win as India's Test captain!

35.2 Jomel Warrican to KL Rahul, FOUR! THAT'S IT! India win, they seal the series 2-0! Excellent display this has been from India, pretty much clinical all throughout the series. West Indies should be proud about how they fought towards the end. Length delivery on middle and leg, Rahul swipes it past mid-wicket and seals the game with that boundary.

35.1 Jomel Warrican to KL Rahul, down the leg-side with the length delivery, Rahul moving inside the line of the ball to play and misses, pings on the pad.

The scores are level! And KL Rahul will be eager to finish this off. Fitting he gets the right to do so and incidentally, on his 'home' ground as he plays for the Delhi Capitals. Another Kantara-esque celebration anyone?