The hosts won the first Test, in Ahmedabad, by an innings and 140 runs.
Spinner Kuldeep Yadav claimed five wickets as India bowled out the West Indies for 248 and enforced the follow-on in the second Test on Sunday.
The tourists were 140-4 at stumps, still trailing India by 378 runs at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium.
West Indies closed day four at 76 for two having been set a daunting victory target of 365 to square the series at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad
A day packed with action at Queen's Park Oval in between short, sharp showers saw Mohammed Siraj scything through the lower half of the home side's first innings in the morning to earn his team a 183-run lead
In adding 143 runs in 65 overs between seasonal showers the cricket certainly wasn't electrifying, although the determination of the home side to avoid a repeat of the capitulation of the first Test meant survival was prioritised over any attempt at entertainment
Ashwin got excellent support from fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3-26) with the only resistance of note coming from debutant batsman Alick Athanaze, who at least gave the home fans something to smile about as the 24-year-old left-handed Dominican stroked his way to 47 before being eighth out just before the tea interval
Ashwin got excellent support from fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja (3-26) with the only resistance of note coming from debutant batsman Alick Athanaze, who at least gave the home fans something to smile about as the 24-year-old left-handed Dominican stroked his way to 47 before being eighth out just before the tea interval
