Follow UsWhen Shai Hope scored twin centuries against England in 2017, little did we know that it would take him another EIGHT YEARS to score another one. Hope scored 147 and 118* to lead West Indies to a famous win in Leeds, and since then, he has averaged just 22 in 30 Tests before this game against India in Delhi, managing just four fifties in 57 innings.
All that changed in the second innings of the second Test against India in Delhi. Hope, who made his debut in 2015, smashed his first Test century after 2,971 days, which amounts to 8 years, 1 month and 19 days. It took the 31-year-old 58 innings to add to his Test century tally - the most for West Indies.
58 Shai Hope (2017-25)
47 Jermaine Blackwood (2015-20)
46 Chris Gayle (2005-08)
44 Dwayne Bravo (2005-09)
41 Shivnarine Chanderpaul (1998-02)
Thanks to Hope's century and his 177-run third-wicket partnership with John Campbell (115), West Indies are finally ahead for the first time in the match. They were behind by 270 runs after being asked to follow on and found themselves in a spot of bother at 35/2.
Dean Elgar (160) & Quinton de Kock (111*), Vizag, 2019
Usman Khawaja (180) & Cameron Green (114), Ahmedabad, 2023
John Campbell (115) & Shai Hope (103), Delhi, 2025
That's when Hope came in, steadied the innings and got West Indies into the lead. Mohammed Siraj cleaned him up with a ball that came sharply back into him, aided by an inside edge. His innings finally came to an end on 103 off 214 deliveries, with 12 fours and two sixes punctuating his innings.
This comes at an excellent time for the West Indies, especially after they were bowled out for just 248 in the first innings in response to India's 518/5 declared. India also won the first Test by an innings and 140 runs.