The rivalry between India and West Indies in Test cricket is a captivating one. The two teams have clashed in 98 matches, with India emerging victorious in 22 encounters and West Indies prevailing on 30 occasions. The remaining 46 matches ended in a draw. The eagerly awaited first Test match between West Indies and India is set to take place at Windsor Park Stadium in Dominica from July 12 to July 16.
The very first Test match between India and West Indies took place in 1948. Led by captain John Goddard, the West Indies cricket team embarked on a tour of India for a five-match series. Lala Amarnath captained the Indian team. West Indies emerged victorious, clinching the series 1-0.
In January 1953, under the captaincy of Vijay Hazare, the Indian cricket team embarked on their first overseas Test series against West Indies. However, the hosts once again secured a 1-0 series win. Since then, India and West Indies have played a total of 98 Tests. West Indies have won 30 matches, while India have emerged victorious in 22. There have been 46 draws.
Although West Indies held dominance in this Test fixture until the 1990s, India has remained unbeaten against West Indies in Test matches since 2002. Throughout their captivating battles, both teams have achieved numerous records. Here is a comprehensive overview of the head-to-head records between India and West Indies in Test cricket.
Also Read: IND vs WI 2023 1st Test: Pitch Report for Windsor Park Stadium
India vs West Indies Test Records and Stats
IND vs WI Test: Highest Team Total
In India vs West Indies Tests, the Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest team total. This remarkable feat was achieved during the first Test of the West Indies’ tour of India in 2018. In the match held in Rajkot, India elected to bat first and amassed a colossal score of 649/9 in their first innings. The Indian batsmen delivered outstanding performances, with Prithvi Shaw (134), captain Virat Kohli (139), and Ravindra Jadeja (100 not out) all scoring centuries. Their contributions propelled India to a mammoth total on the scoreboard. In response, West Indies were bowled out for 181 and 196, leading to India’s victory in the Rajkot Test by an innings and 272 runs.
IND vs WI Test: Lowest Team Total
India holds the undesirable record for the lowest team total in the India vs West Indies Test fixture. In the first Test of West Indies’ tour of India in 1987, India elected to bat first in Delhi but suffered a collapse, getting bowled out for a mere 75 runs. Right-arm pacer Patrick Patterson played a pivotal role for West Indies, taking five wickets for just 24 runs. However, India showed resilience by bowling out the visitors for 127 in their first innings. In their second innings, led by Dilip Vengsarkar, India managed to score 327 runs. Unfortunately, West Indies successfully chased down the target with five wickets in hand, securing victory in the match.
IND vs WI Test: Most Runs
India’s little master Sunil Gavaskar holds the record for scoring the most runs in India vs West Indies Tests. Throughout his illustrious Test career, the former Indian opening batsman accumulated 2,749 runs in 27 matches, boasting an impressive average of 65.45. Gavaskar registered 13 centuries and seven half-centuries against the formidable West Indies team. His highest Test score of an unbeaten 236 was also achieved against West Indies. On the other hand, Clive Lloyd stands as the highest run-scorer for West Indies, amassing 2,344 runs in 28 Tests against India, with an average of 58.60.
IND vs WI Test: Most Wickets
The World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev holds the record for the most wickets in the India vs West Indies Test fixture. The renowned right-arm pacer claimed a total of 89 wickets in 25 matches against West Indies from 1978 to 1989, maintaining an impressive average of 24.89. Dev secured five four-wicket hauls and four five-wicket hauls against the Windies in Test cricket. On the other hand, Malcolm Marshall stands as the leading wicket-taker for West Indies in this fixture, having taken 76 wickets in just 17 Tests at an average of 21.98.
IND vs WI Test: Highest Individual Score
Rohan Kanhai, one of the former top-order West Indies batter holds the record for the highest individual score in India vs West Indies Tests. Displaying his skills at number three, Kanhai scored an impressive 256 runs against India during the third Test of the West Indies tour of India at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 1958-59. Kanhai’s exceptional innings played a pivotal role in West Indies’ victory in the Kolkata Test, securing a commanding lead of an innings and 336 runs.
IND vs WI Test: Best Bowling Figures
Kapil Dev holds the record for the best bowling figures in an innings in India vs West Indies Tests. During the second innings of the third Test of West Indies’ tour of India in 1983, Dev delivered a remarkable performance, claiming 9 wickets for just 83 runs. Despite Dev’s outstanding spell, India ended up losing the Test by 138 runs.
On the other hand, Narendra Hirwani holds the record for the best bowling figures in a match in this Test fixture. The India leg-spinner showcased his brilliance during the Chennai Test of the West Indies tour of India in 1988, taking an impressive 16 wickets. India emerged victorious in the fourth Test of the series, defeating West Indies by a massive margin of 255 runs.
IND vs WI Test: Highest Partnership
Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar created history by forming the highest partnership in India vs West Indies Tests. During the second innings of the Kolkata Test at the iconic Eden Gardens in 1978, the Indian duo displayed exceptional batting prowess and remained unbeaten, accumulating a remarkable 344 runs for the second wicket. This partnership played a crucial role in the match, which eventually ended in a thrilling draw. Despite the Windies’ determined efforts, they managed to save the game with just one wicket remaining, adding to the excitement of the contest.
