When was the Last Time India Batted after Enforcing a Follow On?

India were firmly in control of the second Test against the West Indies, and they still are, but a disciplined second-innings effort from the visitors has added a bit of interest heading into Day 4. After piling up a commanding 518/5 declared in their first innings, thanks to some outstanding batting displays, India bowled out the West Indies for 248, securing a massive 270-run lead and enforcing the follow-on.

The pitch is still playing fairly well, and the West Indies have shown some fight in their second innings. If they manage to build a solid lead, it could set up an interesting final day, potentially putting India in the position of having to chase a target in the fourth innings, something which is rarely seen when they've enforced the follow-on.

India Follow On: When Was the Last Time India Batted After Follow On?

In a rare event, the last time India enforced the follow-on and still had to bat again came nearly 13 years ago, in the 2012 Ahmedabad Test against England at the biggest cricket stadium in the world. If history is to repeat itself here, it would mark a highly unusual turn of events in India’s Test cricket journey.

Back in that 2012 Test match, England bounced back strongly after being forced to follow on. After being dismissed for just 191 in their first innings in response to India’s dominating 521/8 declared, England showed fightback in their second innings, putting up 406 runs. That meant India had to bat again in the fourth innings, chasing a target, which they did successfully, though they lost a few wickets along the way. India eventually secured a nine-wicket win.

Interestingly, none of the players in India’s current Test XI had made their debut at the time of that match. Ravindra Jadeja, the most senior member of the present squad, made his Test debut later in that same England series but wasn’t part of the Ahmedabad Test.

India to Bat Again After Enforcing Follow On Against West Indies

The IND vs WI 2nd Test saw the home team getting a significant lead of 270 runs, which allowed India to enforce the follow-on and push for a possible innings victory. But in the second innings, the West Indies have shown impressive determination with the bat. Opener John Campbell has anchored the innings beautifully and scored his maiden Test century after a long wait in international cricket by hitting a six over long on and ultimately got out on 115, while Shai Hope has provided strong support from the other end with a fluent innings of 103. The duo stitched together a vital stand of 177 runs, the highest partnership for the West Indies in Test cricket this year.

Their approach has been commendable, especially under the pressure of following on against a quality Indian bowling attack, which includes the best test bowler in the world. Hope has looked the more attacking of the two, making the most of scoring opportunities, while Campbell patiently grinded out his innings. As the second session on Day 4 begins, another solid session or two from the West Indies could help them build a meaningful lead, potentially putting India in an unusual position, which means they will have to chase a target in the fourth innings after enforcing the follow-on.

What is Follow On in Test Cricket?

In Test cricket, the term follow-on refers to a situation where the team that bats second is asked to bat again immediately after their first innings, instead of the team that batted first. This usually happens when the team batting first takes a big lead, in five-day Tests, a lead of at least 200 runs. The captain of the team with the lead then has the option to enforce the follow-on.

The idea behind this move is to keep the pressure on the opposing team and try to win the match without needing to bat again. It’s often used when the pitch is expected to get tougher to bat on, or when there’s limited time left in the match. However, it's not a mandatory rule; the captain must decide whether enforcing the follow-on is the best strategy, considering factors like how tired the bowlers are or how much time is left in the game.