Anderson Phillip was one of the two changes made to the West Indies squad for the second Test in India, confirmed by captain Roston Chase ahead of the match at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday. Phillip, who had played only three Tests before arriving in New Delhi, replaced Johann Layne, sidelined due to a left shoulder injury.

 

Phillip made his international debut for West Indies in 2022 against Bangladesh and played another Test against Australia later that year. He had to wait until 2025 for his next opportunity, when he was included in the playing XI against Australia at home.

 

With the pitch showing a fresh green layer, Phillip was brought in with the hope of picking up early wickets with the new ball. However, the plan did not work as expected, as the 29-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago struggled against Indian batters like KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

 

Roston Chase had expressed confidence in Phillip during the toss, saying he is a quality new-ball bowler and the team needed early breakthroughs.

 

Phillip is often referred to as West Indies’ secret weapon because of his outstanding domestic record. At that level, he has claimed 155 wickets in 83 innings at an average of around 3.70 runs per over, which caught the attention of the national selectors. Known for his pace and ability to bowl aggressively, Phillip is regarded as a promising talent for the future.

 

He can also contribute as a lower-order batter, adding depth to the lineup. His inclusion brings extra speed and energy to a West Indies pace attack that has been struggling in recent times. In his four international matches so far, Phillip has taken four wickets and is recognized for his excellent fielding abilities.

 

The playing XI for the second Test is as follows

 

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj