Flashback: The last time West Indies defeated India in Tests
West Indies cricket is going through a difficult period in all formats of the game. The 2012 and 2016 T20 World Cup champions have been poor in international cricket for some time now due to various reasons. The Caribbean side also failed to book their place for the upcoming ODI World Cup as they suffered embarrassing losses to Scotland and Netherlands in the recently concluded ICC WC Qualifiers. Talking about the Test format, the Windies have an abysmal record against Asian giants India as they last beat them way back in the year 2002.
India toured West Indies for a five-match Test and five-game one-day international series in 2002. The first Test match ended up in a draw while the visitors won the second encounter. The home side bounced back to win the third Test at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The fourth meeting also ended up in a stalemate at Antigua Recreation Ground at St.John’s.
With the series tied at 1-1, both sides then locked horns in the decider at Sabina Park in Kington, Jamaica. The home side eventually defeated team India and that’s when the last time they emerged victorious against them in the longest format of the game.
Back to 2002
Skipper Sourav Ganguly won the toss and India elected to field first. Wavell Hinds struck a century (113) while Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs all smashed their respective half-centuries as West Indies posted a total of 422 in their first innings.
In reply, the visitors managed to score only 212 with VVS Laxman remaining not out on 65. Seamer Mervyn Dillon was the pick of the bowlers for the home side as he delivered a spell of 5/71 in 24 overs. Chanderpaul yet again struck a fifty (59) as the Caribbean side got bowled out for 197, setting a massive target of 408 for the tourists.
Sachin Tendulkar scored 86 while the rest of the batters failed to contribute much as team India got bundled out for 252. Pacers Pedro Collins and Adam Sanford took three scalps each while Cameron Cuffy also bagged two as West Indies sealed the contest by a margin of 155 runs to also win the series by a margin of 2-1 (5). It has been 21 years and counting as the Windies wait for their victory against India in whites.
