Three Indian cricketers who averaged more than 50 in Tests at West Indies

After having trounced the West Indies in both the T20 and ODI series, India carried on their form by defeating West Indies by a margin of 318 runs in the first Test. The victory ensured that India's World Test Championship campaign started on winning note.

West Indies had no answers to the magical spells weaved by Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah as India extended their unbeaten run against the West Indies to 22 Tests.

The Caribbean is a strange place to play cricket because of the varying pitch conditions. On a given day, one could expect the ball nipping around with a lot of pace and bounce, eventually hustling the batsmen. On other days, the pitch tends to wear out fast, ultimately resulting in the opening up of cracks. The spinners can exploit those cracks and create havoc for the batsmen. Added to this, the bounce is mostly uneven and the weather changes quickly.

Right from the era where the West Indies dominated the game in the 1970s to their downfall and the resurrection in the current times, only a handful of batsmen have tasted success in such conditions.

Here are three Indian cricketers (minimum 10 matches) who had averaged over 50 in the West Indies in Tests.

#3 Polly Umrigar

Polly Umrigar was the backbone of the Indian batting line up in the 1950s. Along with being known for his captaincy and all-round abilities, he also played a pivotal role in India’s away Test campaigns.

In the 10 Tests that he played in West Indies, he amassed 1005 runs at a stupendous average of 55.83. As Indian cricket looked to gain ascendancy in those times, Umrigar revolutionized the art of the batting and inspired a whole host of next-generation cricketers.

He caused nightmares to the West Indies' bowlers by playing the waiting game and looking to occupy the crease. His efforts paid fruitful results as he scored 3 centuries and 7 half-centuries.

After his demise in 2006, BCCI introduced an award in his name for the most outstanding Indian cricketer of the year.

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#2 Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid was one of the few cricketers to have an impressive overseas record.

Rahul Dravid was one of the few Indians to have an impressive overseas record. Walking in at one down, Dravid certainly relished the challenges that were hurled at him. His method of grinding out the bowling attack and showing the intent to remain patient had left the opposition searching for answers.

Out of the 28 innings that he played in the West Indies, he scored 3 centuries and 11 half-centuries at an impressive average of 65.7. While Sehwag was going berserk at St. Lucia, Dravid’s (146) measured approach and lucid style of batting gelled well and the West Indies were left in tatters.

He also crafted a brilliant second-innings century (112) in Jamaica back in the first Test match of the 2011 tour, thereby helping India register a memorable victory on the Windies soil.

Dravid’s determination and the intent was well received by the opposition. Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden famously said, “If you want to see aggression on a cricket field, look into Rahul Dravid’s eyes.”

It has been seven years since Dravid’s retirement. But the legacy that he had left would be certainly etched in the minds of ardent cricket fans for time immemorial.

#1 Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman to score 10000 Test runs.

In an era where the West Indies bowlers breathed fire and destroyed the opposition line-up with sheer aplomb and disdain, there was one cricketer by the name Sunil Gavaskar who stood tall with defiance and blunted out testing spells with panache and ease.

Remember! Gavaskar played at a time where there was no protection for the face. The manner in which he brought his stride forward and left a pacy delivery or ducked under a vicious bouncer required immense concentration and focus. However, he made it look like a child’s play.

Out of the 13 Tests that he played, Gavaskar scored 1404 runs at an outstanding average of 70.20.

The twin hundreds that he scored at Trinidad (124 and 220) will certainly go down as one of the finest knocks to be played by a visiting batsman in the West Indies.