West Indies' last Test win in India (Source: @ICC/x.com)
Since the birth of the game of cricket, the world has witnessed the real thrills of the game. While the game has evolved into shorter formats, Test cricket remains timeless, delivering the same unmatched excitement that has captivated generations.
In the cricket world, the West Indies has dominated its opponents over the decades across the formats. Once the kings of the longest format, the Caribbean giants now struggle to recreate that dominance, as the glory days of their Test supremacy slowly fade into history.
As the West Indies is facing India in a two-match Test series, their long-standing struggle on Indian soil in the longest format is raising eyebrows. It has been 31 years since the Caribbean stars last celebrated a Test victory in India. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to revisit that historic win.
West Indies’ decades-long hunt for a Test win in India
Over the years, West Indies cricket has produced some iconic cricket talents who have become legends of the game with their own brilliance. Since India and the West Indies first locked horns in the longest format back in 1948, the Caribbean side took away the series with a 1-0 margin. After that, the Men in Blue took 22 long years to register their first Test win against the West Indies.
Since then, both sides shared fiery face-offs on the field. Legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, and Brian Lara have taken the rivalry to exhilarating heights. Yet, over time, the intensity faded, with the West Indies’ continued struggle on Indian soil leaving many to wonder if the magic still remains.
In 1994, they registered their last Test triumph on Indian soil till now. 31 years later, that victory remains elusive, as the Caribbean side has struggled to reclaim glory in India. Meanwhile, the Indian stars have flipped the script, asserting their dominance.
Remembering West Indies’ last Test victory in India
In 1994, the West Indies travelled to India for an iconic three-match Test series against India. As India took the lead in the series by winning the opening game, the second match ended in a draw. Drama soared in the third match as the West Indies side registered a thrilling victory in the clash.
Batting first, the West Indies faced early hiccups, though Brian Lara’s quickfire 40 gave the innings a spark. But the real turning point arrived with Jimmy Adams at number four. Coming to bat at the number 4 position, Jimmy Adams unleashed his beast mode. Slamming a century and crossing the 150-run mark, he remained unbeaten, scoring 174 runs, and the West Indies ended their first innings in 443 runs.
Coming to bat in the first innings, Team India lost an early wicket as Navjot Singh Sidhu walked away on a duck. After that, Manoj Prabhakar and Sanjay Manjrekar stitched a 103-run partnership. After Manjrekar walked out on 40, Tendulkar added another 40 crucial runs. Depending on Prabhakar’s 120-run innings, Team India ended their innings on 387 runs.
West Indies batters soar as Benjamin-Walsh outclasses India
Channeling their exceptional form in the second innings, West Indies batters set the stage on fire. After Phil Simmons walked away scoring only 25 runs, Brian Lara played a game-changing knock of 91 runs in 104 balls. Jimmy Adams and Keith Arthurton then stole the spotlight, unbeaten on 78 and 70, as the Caribbean side declared a commanding 301, leaving fans in awe of their firepower.
The second innings turned out to be a disaster for the Indian side as the Caribbean bowlers set the stage on fire. After Prabhakar returned with a retired hurt, Kenny Benjamin turned the game singlehandedly.
As he secured a dominating five-wicket haul, Courtney Walsh secured three crucial wickets while conceding 34 runs. Bowled out for a mere 114, India collapsed, handing West Indies a thumping 243-run win that sealed their last Test triumph on Indian soil.
Chasing the end of the curse
In the 1994 Test series, West Indies came with a series of not losing a Test series since 1980. But the 1994 Test series against India flipped the script dramatically. After snatching victory in the final Test, the Caribbean giants managed to level the series 1-1. Yet, that moment marked the beginning of a shift, as the script has flipped ever since.
After that, the West Indies played 10 Test matches and failed to secure even a single win on Indian soil. A drought no Caribbean side would have ever imagined still haunts them, as they now return for a fresh Test battle in India, their first since the 2018-19 season.
With a revamp squad, West Indies has stepped into the series with a bigger aim. Armed with match-winners and game-changers, the Caribbean unit is determined to rewrite history and finally shatter the long-standing jinx on Indian soil.
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