India and West Indies are currently involved in a two-match Test series. The first match is currently being played in Ahmedabad while the second one will be played in Delhi. Over the past few years, there
has been quite a drastic gap between the level of both teams. While the Indians have become red-ball powerhouses, the same cannot be said about the Windies.
However, speaking of their head-to-head history, the two teams share a storied Test rivalry filled with some classic encounters. In the 100 Tests they have featured in, India have won 23, West Indies 30 and 47 have ended as a draw. On that note, let us explore three of the most memorable and eventful red-ball encounters between the sides.
India vs West Indies: 3 most thrilling Test matches of all time
3. West Indies vs India 2006, 4th Test (India won by 49 runs)
Captain Rahul Dravid top-scored with 81 off 215 as India folded for 200 on Day 1 of the Kingston Test in 2006. No one crossed the 20-run mark apart from Dravid and Anil Kumble (45 off 101) as Jerome Taylor impressed with a five-fer under his belt.
Some impressive piece of bowling from the visitors, particularly from Harbhajan Singh (5/13 in 4.3 overs), helped India skittle West Indies for just 103 before Dravid played another captain's knock in India's second innings. His gritty 168-ball 68 included 12 fours. Taylor and Corey Collymore picked up four and five wickets, respectively, to restrict India's second innings score to 171, which meant West Indies were set a target of 269.
An outstanding display of bowling from Kumble (6/78 in 22.4 overs) trumped Windies with Denesh Ramdin's effort (62* off 85) goin in vain as India ended up winning the four-Test series by a 0-1 margin, their first series win in the Caribbean in 35 years.
2. West Indies vs India 2002, 2nd Test (India won by 37 runs)
Half-centuries from Dravid (67 off 147) and VVS Laxman (69* off 123) in addition to a splendid ton by Sachin Tendulkar (117 off 260) took India to an imposing 339 in the first innings at Port of Spain in 2002. Adam Sanford and Marlon Black picked up three wickets apiece.
The West Indians started quite positively and were scoring runs at a decent click= However, everything went south after the dismissal of Brian Lara (52 off 78) as a middle-order collapse meant West Indies could put only 245.
In the second innings, India were bundled out for 218 courtesy of a four-wicket haul from Mervyn Dillon and a three-wicket return from Cameron Cuffy with skipper Sourav Ganguly (75*) and Laxman (74) doing the bulk of the scoring.
With a target of 313, everything was looking set for the hosts until Chris Gayle was dismissed as the fifth wicket. West Indies collapsed for the second time in the clash as their next five wickets fell for just 38 runs, with India registering a hard-fought win by 37 runs.
1. India vs West Indies 2011, 3rd Test (Draw)
West Indies had already lost the 2011 series by getting defeated in the first two matches. They posted their highest total in the series in the third and final Test of the series, amassing 590 in their first innings on the back of a 166 by Darren Bravo at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.
Playing just his third Test, Ashwin had secured his second five-wicket haul. Later, coming in at No. 8, he brought up his maiden Test ton (103 off 118) in an all-round display. Dravid (82 off 149) and Sachin (94 off 153) came close to their tons but missed out as India were dismissed for 482, conceding a 108-run lead.
West Indies were rattled in the second innings, with Darren Bravo top-scoring with 48. However, they could only manage 134 as Pragyan Ojha (6/47) and Ashwin (4/34) knocked them out in quick time. The game was perfectly set as the hosts required only 243 in 64 overs on the final day.
There was plenty of tension and drama on the fifth and final day as both teams fought neck-to-neck, with the situation coming fown to three to get with a couple of wickets remaining in the final over of the day. With two to win off the final ball, Ashwin was run-out after running a single as the game ended in a thrilling draw.
