West Indies and India have always shared a very rich cricketing legacy. Both nations are passionate supporters of the game and have produced many iconic players over the years.
Both countries have a sense of mutual respect for each other, and the players on either side respect the worth of the opposition. West Indies have always found an able partner in India whenever there have been and crisis, be it the apartheid movement, or anything else, India and West Indies have stood together.
The popularity of West Indian players in India is a testament to the acceptance of the West Indian culture in India. However, this mutual friendship has never come in the way of the two teams when it gets down to business on the cricket field.
Over the years, both nations have been involved in some iconic test matches and the memories will always remain fresh in the minds of the cricketing audiences. We take a look at 5 such iconic test matches and moments, as India get ready for another Test Series in the Caribbean islands.
#1 1971 triumph
This victory will, by all means, be a watershed moment for Indian cricket. This win was India's maiden test series victory over the mighty West Indies. It was also the series where Sunil Gavaskar made his debut and showed the world his mettle, as he amassed runs against the pace battery of the West Indies. He scored four centuries and also a double ton.
India came into the second test match after having forced West Indies to follow on in the first match in Kingston, Jamaica. Hence, they were riding the momentum, and this showed when they bundled out the hosts for 214 on the first day of the second test match in Trinidad and Tobago.
Led by Dilip Sardesai and Sunil Gavaskar, India took a lead of 138 in the first innings. West Indies were then dismissed for 261, as Srinivas Venkatraghavan picked up 5 wickets.
Chasing down a target of 124 runs, the visitors romped home with a day to spare as the debutant Sunil Gavaskar stayed unbeaten on 67 runs and even hit the winning boundary for good measure.
India held on to this lead and won the 5 match series 1-0.
#2 India collapse in Barbados in 1997
If 1971 was a historic triumph, this match in 1997 was a disaster for the Indian team. On a grassy Barbados pitch, West Indies were restricted to 298 in their first innings. India then replied with 319 and were in a better position going forward in the test match.
Led by Abey Kuruvilla, the Indian pacers shot out the hosts for a paltry 140 in their second innings, and thus India had to chase 120 to win the Test Match. But then disaster struck as the West Indies bowling attack took control of the innings and sliced through the Indian batting line-up.
Curtly Ambrose took 3 wickets, Ian Bishop took 4 and Franklin Rose picked up 3 wickets to bundle out the visitors for just 81 runs.
Such was the impact of this loss, that Sachin Tendulkar who was the captain of the team makes a mention of this collapse in his autobiography.
"Monday, 31 March 1997, was a dark day in the history of Indian cricket and definitely the worst of my captaincy career," Tendulkar writes in his book Playing it My Way.
#3 Anil Kumble bowls with a broken jaw
This match was a morose affair, as the pitch was no better than a flat road. The match meandered on and eventually ended in a tame draw, as both the teams enjoyed themselves on a featherbed in the veil of a cricket pitch.
However, this match will always be remembered for one Anil Kumble and his grit and determination. The leg-spinner was hit by a rising Mervyn Dillon delivery while he was batting, and this forced his jaw to be bandaged, even as blood oozed out everywhere.
However, this did not deter him from taking the field with a bandaged jaw. He bowled 14 overs on the trot and also dismissed Brian Lara.
"It was one of the bravest things I've seen on the field of play," said Viv Richards later.
One only hopes that the present Indian coach imparts some of this attitude to the players around him!
#4 Mumbai drawn test
Only in cricket can a drawn match be a thrilling affair, and only in Test cricket can honours be shared but not without its share of intense drama and thrill.
R Ashwin was the man right through the series and it all boiled down to him when it mattered the most. India needed 2 runs from the final two deliveries and with only 1 wicket in hand. The off-spinner who had already scored a century in the first innings decided to block the penultimate ball to make matters safe for India. He then smashed the ball to long on to take the single but was run out trying to pinch in the second run. The scores were level and the match was drawn.
This was only the second time in history that a Test has been drawn with scores level!
#5 Sachin Tendulkar's farewell match in Mumbai
The cricketing world came to a virtual standstill as, after 200 matches, Sachin Tendulkar finally decided to bid adieu to the game. West Indies were the worthy opponents, in an emotional Wankhede Stadium.
India won the game by an innings and 126 runs inside 3 days took a backseat, as Sachin Tendulkar delivered a sterling farewell speech to leave many moist eyes all around the world. The maestro walked off the field for one final time in Indian colours, and there was a tear in his eyes too, as the Sachin chants echoed all over the stadium.
India registered a 2-0 sweep in the series, and the Sachin era came to a glorious end!
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