5 memorable ODI bowling efforts by Indians against West Indies at home

Team India will take on West Indies in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 6. The occasion will be historic as India will be playing their 1000th one-day match. The hosts’ preparations, though, were hampered after Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad and a few members of the support staff tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the series.

The good news for the Men in Blue is that Rohit Sharma is back as captain having missed the South Africa one-dayers due to a hamstring injury. India had a torrid time against the Proteas, going down 0-3 in the three-match series. In contrast, the West Indies got the better of England 3-2 at home in a T20I series before heading to India.

A glance at the head-to-head record between the teams in matches played in India hints that neither side has had the upper hand. India have won 29 of 58 ODIs played at home, while West Indies have tasted victory in 28. The hosts, however, have been dominant in recent times, with Windies’ quality falling away.

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Top ODI bowling performances by Men in Blue against West Indies in India

As India and West Indies gear up to face each other in the ODI series, we look back at five impressive bowling efforts by the Men in Blue against the Windies at home.

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#5 Jasprit Bumrah (4/35) - Pune, October 2018

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates a wicket against West Indies. Pic: Getty Images

Team India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah claimed 4/35 in an ODI against the Windies in Pune in October 2018. India bowled first after winning the toss in the third one-dayer of the five-match series. Bumrah’s effort restricted the visitors to under 300 despite Shai Hope’s 95. West Indies finished on 283 for 9.

The fast bowler sent back both the openers cheaply. He dismissed Chandrapaul Hemraj (15) with a bouncer that the batter could only miscue for MS Dhoni to pull off a brilliant catch. Bumrah then squared up Kieran Powell (21) and had him caught at first slip. The pacer returned to claim two wickets at the death. He cleaned up Hope with a yorker and trapped Ashley Nurse (40) leg before with another block-hole delivery.

Bumrah’s efforts were in vain though, as India folded up for 240 in response despite Virat Kohli’s 107. Samuels claimed 3/12 while Jason Holder, Obed McCoy and Ashley Nurse picked up two wickets apiece to sink India.

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#4 Venkatapathy Raju (4/46) - Jaipur, November 1994

Former India left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju. Pic: Getty Images

Left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju picked up 4/46 as Team India defeated a strong Caribbean outfit by five runs in a close ODI in Jaipur in November 1994. India were defending a target of 260 in the fifth one-dayer of the five-match series. West Indies looked in control for most of the chase but key strikes by Raju at crucial junctures in the game saw India register a thrilling win.

West Indies skipper Brian Lara was looking good on 47 but Raju trapped him in front of the stumps to raise India’s hopes. He then gave another major boost to the team, dismissing Carl Hooper (84) in similar fashion. The visitors managed to drag themselves to 252 for 8. However, Raju cleaned up Anderson Cummins (1) and Cameron Cuffy (2) to bowl India to victory.

Earlier, the hosts’ total of 259 for 5 was built around Sachin Tendulkar’s 105 and Vinod Kambli’s 66. West Indies would have had hopes of chasing down the total but Raju proved too good on a helpful surface.

#3 Mohammed Shami (4/36) - Delhi, October 2014

Team India pacer Mohammed Shami. Pic: Getty Images

Seasoned Team India pacer Mohammed Shami was the star performer with figures of 4/36 as the Men in Blue got the better of the Windies by 48 runs in an ODI in Pune in October 2014. Batting first after winning the toss, the hosts put up a competitive 263 for 7 on the back of fifties from Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni.

In reply, West Indies were cruising at 170 for 2. However, Shami turned the match in India’s favor with a fantastic spell. The right-arm pacer broke a defiant opening stand of 64. He cleaned up Darren Bravo (26) with a wonderful delivery that angled in from round the stumps and held its line. Shami also ended Dwayne Smith’s resistance on 97 as the West Indian batter was done in by some late inswing and got bowled.

Shami returned towards the end of the innings to add the finishing touches. West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo (10) sliced him to long-off, while Ravi Rampaul (16) top-edged a pull and was caught by the bowler himself. Ravindra Jadeja aided Shami, claiming 3/44.

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#2 Ravindra Jadeja (4/34) - Thiruvananthapuram, November 2018

Ravindra Jadeja (left) celebrates wicket. Pic: Getty Images

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja starred in India’s thumping nine-wicket win over West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram in November 2018. In the fifth ODI of the five-match series, Jadeja claimed 4/34 as the hosts cleaned up the visitors for 104, bowling first after losing the toss.

Jadeja got the big wicket of Marlon Samuels for 24 as the right-hander offered a simple catch to extra cover. Shimron Hetmyer (9) was trapped in front with a fuller delivery as he misread the length. The left-arm spinner returned to dismiss the tail. Kemar Roach (5) gave a catch to long-off, while Oshane Thomas (0) was plumb lbw off a length ball that spun back sharply.

Jasprit Bumrah and Khaleel Ahmed also claimed two wickets each as West Indies were allowed no breathing space. Chasing 105, Rohit Sharma (63* off 56) and Virat Kohli (33* off 29) took India to a dominating win, going past the target in 14.5 overs.

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#1 Anil Kumble (6/12) - Hero Cup Final, November 1993

Former India leg-spinner Anil Kumble. Pic: Getty Images

Nothing has beaten Anil Kumble’s 6/12 in the 1993 Hero Cup final when it comes to the best bowling effort by an Indian bowler against the West Indies at home. The leg-spinner was unplayable as he ran through a hapless Windies batting line-up. Chasing a gettable 226 to lift the Hero Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Richie Richardson’s team succumbed to 123 all out.

Kumble was too good for Roland Holder, cleaning him up for 15. Continuing his demolition job, he had Jimmy Adams (4) caught by skipper Mohammad Azharuddin in the covers. Carl Hooper (23) was trapped lbw as he played across the line, while Winston Benjamin (3) was too late on a flipper and was bowled. Curtly Ambrose (0) was also cleaned up in his attempt to slog Kumble. The winning moment came when the leggie got through Anderson Cummins’ (1) defense with a yorker.

Earlier, India’s total of 225 for 7 was built around Vinod Kambli’s 68 and handy contributions from captain Azharuddin (38) and Ajay Jadeja (30). Cummins’ three-fer kept the Indians under check but Kumble’s brilliance bowled India to a memorable 102-run triumph.