In the 12 Tests (across three series) that the Indian cricket team has played in the Caribbean since the start of the new millennium, India have been able to win just thrice. Surprisingly though, in the series count, India have won two out of three.
Bar India’s performances in the odd game in 2002 and 2006, the Caribbean sojourns in the last 16 years have been uninspiring at best.
Here, we take a look at how India have fared during their West Indies tours since 2002.
India’s tour to the West Indies – 2001/02
India conceded the lead to end up losing the Test series
At the turn of the new century, a young side led by the charismatic Sourav Ganguly covered new territory in the Windies by winning the second Test at Port of Spain, after a rain-influenced draw in the first. While the Port of Spain game will be best remembered for Sachin Tendulkar’s heroics in the first innings, a large portion of the victory was due to underrated efforts from Javagal Srinath and Sourav Ganguly.
Headed into the third Test at Bridgetown, India conceded their series lead with an insipid showing, allowing the West Indies to draw level. After a high scoring draw in the fourth Test in Antigua, India fell to Wavell Hind and Merv Dillon’s heroics at Kingston, missing a golden opportunity to seal a rare series win in the Caribbean.
Top performers: VVS Laxman (474 runs), Zaheer Khan (15 wickets)
India’s tour to the West Indies – 2006
The victorious Indian side of 2006
Under Rahul Dravid’s captaincy, India sealed a 1-0 win against the West Indies in 2006 – a feat special because of the relative inexperience in the Indian squad.
After a torrid one-day leg of the tour, India came from behind to draw the first Test at Antigua, led by Wasim Jaffer’s monumental double century. Two high scoring draws later, it was in the final game that India sealed the series.
The low scoring encounter saw only 693 runs being scored across the six innings, with a top score of 81. It was captain Rahul Dravid’s efforts in both the innings that eventually made things easier for India as they wrapped up the series.
Top performers: Rahul Dravid (497 runs), Anil Kumble (23 wickets)
India’s tour to the West Indies – 2011
Ishant Sharma was unstoppable with 22 wickets
Post a glittering World Cup campaign, India headed to the West Indies for coach Duncan Fletcher’s first assignment with the Indian side. What was billed to be an interesting series ended up being rather forgettable.
India won the first game at Jamaica convincingly, with Rahul Dravid carrying forward his form from 2006. While the second Test ended in a hard fought draw thanks to Darren Bravo’s final innings efforts, it was the third Test for which skipper MS Dhoni received the most amount of flak.
Needing around 85 runs with about 15 overs to go, and with seven wickets in hand, a defensive Indian unit decided to settle for a draw rather than chase a 2-0 series win. A spate of overseas defeats followed thereafter.
Top performers: Rahul Dravid (251 runs), Ishant Sharma (22 wickets)
