5 West Indian cricketers who always did well against India in Tests

Srihari
Rohan Kanhai
Kanhai’s career-best Test score of 256 came against India

Some players just love playing against certain teams. Whether it is the nature of the bowling attack or the conditions, certain players enjoyed playing against certain countries. So which West Indian players loved playing against India?

While Jimmy Adams does have the highest average of any West Indian batsman against India in Tests, he only played three Tests. Although his 520 runs came at an average of 173.33, including two fifties and two hundreds, he didn't play for long enough to make it into this list.

But his incredible record is one that merits a mention even if he isn't ultimately on this list. So who have been the most consistent West Indies batsman against India? Does Brian Lara make the list? Or Does Viv Richards?

Here are 5 West Indian cricketers who always did well against India in Tests:


5) Rohan Kanhai

One of finest West Indies batsmen of all-time, Rohan Kanhai certainly loved playing against India. The numbers clearly bear that out. A career Test average of 47.5 from 79 Tests goes up to 62.7 against India. When you consider that these were all scored in an era of uncovered wickets, then you start to realise just how good his record really is.

Although he played in the 1960s, Kanhai was one of the most inventive batsmen of all-time and not just his era as he was renowned for his unorthodox shots, the most memorable of which is the falling hook shot. He employed all of that and more against India against whom he enjoyed playing.

In 18 Tests, he scored 1,693 runs at an average of 62.7 with four centuries and seven half-centuries. While it is true that he has played with some of the greatest West Indian players of alltime from Clyde Walcott (who he just edged out to take the No.5 spot), Garfield Sobers and Clive Lloyd to Alvin Kallicharan and Andy Roberts, there can be little doubt that Kanhai brought his A-game when it came to playing against India.

4) Clive Lloyd

Clive Lloyd
Only Gavaskar has scored more runs in India-West Indies Tests than Lloyd

Clive Lloyd isn't just one of the greatest captains of all-time but was also a more than capable batsman. Over 7,500 runs at an average of 46.7 from 110 Tests speaks volumes about his batting prowess. And there is no team he loved playing against more than India, against whom he is the leading run-scorer among all WI batsmen in Tests.

After all, he has scored more runs and has the best average against India in Tests than any other country, his seven centuries against India are more than what he has against any other country and his career-best Test score of 242* also came against India.

So it should come as no surprise that his records and numbers against India are so impressive. Only Sunil Gavaskar with 2,749 runs has scored more runs in Tests between India and West Indies than Clive Lloyd and Rahul Dravid is the only batsman to have scored more fifties than Lloyd's 12 in Tests between the two countries. His 2,344 runs against India in 28 Tests at an average of 58.6, including seven centuries and 12 fifties highlight just how much he loved playing against India.

3) Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Chanderpaul West Indies

With his unorthodox stance and peculiar way of hitting the ball to odd areas, he certainly raised more than a few eyebrows during his international career. But with nearly 12,000 Test runs to his name at an average in excess of 50, it is fair to say that he silenced his critics throughout his career.

While he is consistent against all teams, which is evident from the fact that he averages over 42 against all teams except Zimbabwe (only 8 Tests), India were arguably his favourite opposition. Or at least that is what is evident from his numbers.

His 2,171 runs against India in Tests is more than what he has against every team apart from England, against whom he played 36 Tests compared to the 25 he played against India. His average of 63.8 is far better against India than it is against England (48) and his return of seven centuries is the most he has against any country in his Test career. It certainly will be a blessing in disguise for the Indian bowlers, who won't have to bowl to him any more.

2) Garry Sobers

Garry Sobers
Only Sunil Gavaskar has scored more centuries in India-West Indies Tests than Sobers

Sir Garfield Sobers is undeniably one of the greatest all-rounders to have ever played the game. His tally of over 8,000 runs and more than 200 wickets are numbers even certain specialists find difficult to achieve. As someone who could do just about everything on the pitch, there can be little doubt of his cricketing genius.

At the wrong end of his genius, especiall with the bat were India on more than one occasion. 1,920 runs in just 18 matches at an average of 83.5 with 8 centuries and 7 fifties tell you a story much better than any words can. He was absolutely brutal against India and almost always delivered.

Only Sunil Gavaskar with 13 centuries has scored more centuries in Tests between India and West Indies than Garry Sobers. Among all batsmen who have played at least 5 Tests, only one player has a higher average for a West Indian against India than Sobers.

1) Everton Weekes

Everton Weekes
Weekes averaged over 100 in Tests against India

Everton Weekes is one of the finest batsmen to have ever played the game. His overall Test record is one of the best in the world and irrespective of the opposition he continued to score runs for fun.

There was no team he enjoyed playing against more than India. And the numbers bear that out as well. His average against India is not only the only country against which his average is in triple digits but the second-best average is against Pakistan, which is just 65.

Although he played just 10 Tests against India, he scored 1,495 runs at a Bradman-esque average of 106.78 with seven centuries and four fifties. Another impressive aspect of his record against India was the fact that he was never dismissed for a duck.

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Edited by Staff Editor