Revisiting West Indies' last five Test defeats against India

India won the first Test against West Indies by a huge margin of an innings and 272 runs. This was India’s biggest win against the once mighty West Indies team. West Indies lost 14 wickets on the third day. The entire 20 wickets were lost in four sessions of play.

This is not the first time that the West Indies lost to India by such a huge margin. In fact, it has happened in all their previous 5 defeats against India before the Rajkot Test. While the Windies did draw some matches in between those heavy defeats when they slipped up they fell flat on the ground.

Here is a look at those 5 humiliating defeats.

Third Test at Gros Islet - August 2016

West Indies won the toss and put India into bat. They looked like in total command when India were reduced to 126 for 5. All the top-order batsmen were back in the pavilion. Saha and Ashwin were at the wicket with the tail to follow. All the West Indies had to do was to go for the kill. At that crucial moment, Ashwin was dropped at short leg and caught at point off a no-ball from Gabriel. And that was enough for the team to fall apart.

The bowlers ran short of fuel and allowed Ashwin and Saha to put up a partnership of 213 runs for the 6th wicket. That took the match away from the West Indies. India managed to reach 353 in the first innings.

In reply, at one stage, the West Indies were comfortably placed at 200 for 3. The spinners Jadeja and Ashwin were rendered ineffective. Everyone thought West Indies would take a substantial lead and put India under pressure. But the advent of the second new ball brought disaster to the West Indies.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled unchanged for 11 overs with the second new ball and took 5 wickets. West Indies, from 200 for 3, collapsed to 225 all out. India took a lead of 128 which was more than sufficient to win that Test by a margin of 237 runs.

First Test at North Sound – July 2016

India won the toss and elected to bat first. Backed up by contributions from Dhawan(84), Kohli(200) and Ashwin(113), India declared their first innings at 566 for 8. Even Saha(40) and Amit Mishra(53) helped themselves to some useful runs.

Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami took 4 wickets apiece and the West Indies were bundled out for 243 in the first innings.

In the second innings, they didn’t do any better and managed 231. Ashwin took 7 wickets.

India once again won by a massive margin of an innings and 92 runs.

Second Test at Mumbai – November 2013

West Indies toured India in 2013 to play 2 Tests. The second Test at Sachin Tendulkar’s home ground was the last Test match of his career. Luck was on the West Indies side when they won the toss and batted first. That was the only success they had in that match.

As expected, the West Indies collapsed to 182 in the first innings on a good batting pitch. The Indian spinners Ashwin took three wickets and Ojha 5. In reply, India amassed 495 runs with centuries from Pujara and Rohit Sharma. Sachin scored 74 in his last innings.

In the second innings, the West Indies batsmen seemed to be in a hurry to listen to Tendulkar’s farewell speech as they once again crumbled to 187. 5 runs better than their first innings effort. This time Ashwin had 4 and Ojha 5.

India won by an innings and 126 runs. Tendulkar had a happy ending to his distinguished career.

First Test at Kolkata – November 2013

This was Rohit Sharma’s debut Test. West Indies batted first and posted, by their standards, a decent 234. For West Indies, Marlon Samuels scored 65. For Indians, Mohammad Shami took 4 wickets.

The West Indies were in with a chance when India were at 83 for 5. Once again there were visions of a first innings lead for West Indies. But from 83 for 5, Rohit Sharma(177), M.S. Dhoni(42) and Ashwin(124) took the Indian score to 453 in the first innings.

India took a lead of 219 runs. That was more than enough for the Windies to lose by an innings and 51 runs. Another massive defeat against India.

Second Test at Kolkata – November 2011

India batted first and amassed 631 in the first innings. Rahul Dravid(119), V.V.S Laxman(176) and M.S. Dhoni(144) had a wonderful time with the bat. As expected, the West Indies collapsed for 153 in the first innings. Ojha took 4 wickets.

When everyone was expecting an early finish to the match, the unthinkable happened. The West Indies, for once, showed some fight in their second innings. All the top order batsmen showed some form. Adrian Barath(62), Edwards(60), Darren Bravo(136), Chanderpaul(46), Samuels(84) and Sammy(32) tried to take the game in to the fifth day.

The Windies score had gone past 400. For once, it looked like it was not going to be an innings defeat. They were 400 for 4 with centurion Darren Bravo at the crease. Suddenly everything went awry for them as they lost their last 6 wickets for 61 runs. India won by an innings and 15 runs and the match got over in four days.

Judging by the past performance of the West Indies team, there is a huge gulf between the quality of the players of the two teams. The gap keeps on widening in every series they play.