It’s been two and a half years since the last Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, when India defeated Australia by six wickets. So much has changed in Indian cricket since February 2023; only four members of that XI are in the squad for the West Indies Tests. Shubman Gill, the new skipper, didn’t play then, while Rohit Sharma, the then captain, has walked away into the Test sunset alongside fellow stalwarts Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and R Ashwin.

Jadeja’s heroics in 2023

One of the heroes of that victory against Pat Cummins’s side was Ravindra Jadeja, whose handy contribution 26 in the first innings was shaded by a 10-wicket match haul, including seven for 42 in the second innings when the Aussies went from 82 for two to 113 all out in the bat of an eyelid. A raging turner that got progressively worse as the game wore on was exploited expertly by spinners from both sides, India’s greater depth carrying the day as the visitors laboured to unearth meaningful support for Nathan Lyon.