Indian captains to win bilateral ODI series in West Indies
India registered a record 12th consecutive bilateral series against West Indies after their recent triumph in the second ODI in Trinidad. India achieved the feat by breaking Pakistan’s record of 11 successive series wins against Zimbabwe. India’s milestone became sweeter since it came in their opponent’s backyard. On that note, we recall the Indian captains to win a bilateral ODI series in West Indies.
Sourav Ganguly – 2002
India’s maiden ODI series victory against the Caribbean side came under their enigmatic skipper Sourav Ganguly’s reins in the summer of 2002. India headed into the five-match ODI series after being defeated 2-1 in the Test series by the hosts. The first two matches of the ODI series were called off due to rain. Both teams won one match in the following matches to set up a thrilling series finale in the fifth ODI. India posted 260 on the board in the first innings, and the hosts were set a revised target of 248 runs in 44 overs via the D/L method. India won the match by 56 runs to claim a historic series victory against the West Indies.
MS Dhoni – 2009
India won their second bilateral series in West Indies under their charismatic leader MS Dhoni. The Men in Blue started the series with a 20-run victory in the first ODI but succumbed to an embarrassing eight-wicket defeat in the following match. The third ODI of the four-match series was won by India in a thrilling contest, and that win proved to be enough for the subcontinent side as the fourth and final match was washed out with India leading the series 2-1. Dhoni was named the player of the series for his match-winnings efforts.
Suresh Raina – 2011
Suresh Raina was named the stand-in skipper for the five-match ODI series against West Indies in the absence of MS Dhoni in 2011 and the southpaw led India to a famous series win in the third ODI after winning the opening two matches. West Indies were in tatters after batting first in the series decider, losing seven wickets under the score of 100. A young Andre Russell rescued the islanders with a breathtaking 92* off just 64 deliveries to take West Indies to a respectable total of 225/8. But the total didn’t prove to be enough as India chased the target down with over three overs to spare on the back of Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 86, sealing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
Virat Kohli – 2016 and 2019
Virat Kohli’s side continued their dominance against West Indies in 2016 after winning the ODI series 3-1. The first match of the series was washed out due to rain, and India won the following two matches before the hosts kept them alive in the series by winning the fourth ODI. Virat Kohli led the side from the front in the series decider as he recorded a masterful century to make a mockery of West Indies’ total of 205 and guided India home to a comfortable series victory.
A similar storyline followed in 2019 when India and West Indies locked horns in the third and final ODI with the series on the line. The hosts set a massive target of 315 runs on the board, but India, on the back of their prolific top-order batters, got home with four wickets to spare to clinch the series 2-1.
Shikhar Dhawan -2022
India’s veteran opening batter, Shikhar Dhawan was named the skipper of the side after Rohit Sharma was rested for the series and the southpaw got his name into the record books after guiding India to a 12th consecutive bilateral series win. Dhawan’s side won the first two games in thrilling last-over finishes to seal another series for India in the Caribbean.
