When India faced West Indies in July 2023, the two-match Test series was played in Roseau and Port of Spain. India dominated the first Test with an innings victory, while the second ended in a rain-affected draw. With this, India secured the series 1-0 in the Caribbean.
Series Overview
The Indian Cricket team’s tour with the West Indies was scheduled from July 12 to July 24,2023. The series was part of the World Championship cycle which included two Test matches. The venues decided for the matches were Windsor Park in Roseau, Dominica for the first Test and Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad for the second Test match.
India went into the series as a very strong team, with experienced players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin, along with young talent such as Yashasvi Jaiswal. On the other hand West Indies were trying to reassemble their Test team and challenge India on home soil.
Squads
India Squad
Rohit Sharma (Captain),Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane (Vice-Captain), Ishan Kishan (Wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (Wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat and Navdeep Saini.
West Indies Squad
Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Jermaine Blackwood, Alick Athanaze, Kirk McKenzie, Joshua Da Silva (Wicket-keeper), Jason Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican
1st Test: Roseau, Dominica
- Result: India won by an innings and 141 runs.
Key Highlights
- India batted first and made 421/5 before declaring. Debutant Yashasvi Jaiswal stood out with a superb 171, captain Rohit Sharma scored a steady 103, and Virat Kohli added 76.
- West Indies were struggling against India’s spinners. In their first innings, they were bowled out for 150, and in the second for 130.
- Ravichandran Ashwin was the main star with the ball, taking 5/60 and 7/71, finishing with 12 wickets in the match.
The win gave India a lead, 1-0 in the series and showed their strength in home away conditions.
2nd Test: Port of Spain, Trinidad
- Result: Match was drawn due to rain interruptions.
Key Highlights
- India once again showed powerful batting, by scoring 438 in their first innings. Virat Kohli scored a classic 121, celebrating his 500th international appearance. Rohit Sharma,Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin also made contributions by making half-centuries.
- West Indies retaliated with 255, with Kraigg Brathwaite fighting hard at the top by scoring 75 runs.
- India declared their second innings at 181/2, setting a target of 365 runs for West Indies.
However, rain spoiled most of the final day, and West Indies ended 76/2, managing to draw the Test.
Series Outcome
- Final Result: India won the two-match series 1-0.
Top Performers for India
- Ravichandran Ashwin – Took 15 wickets in the series, showing everyone once again why he is one of India’s best spinners.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – Made 266 runs in two Tests, which includes an unforgettable century on his debut.
Top Performers for West Indies
- Kraigg Brathwaite – Posted, 130 runs in the series, holding the top-order together.
- Jomel Warrican – West Indies highest wicket-taker, with 5 wickets in the whole series.
Significance of the Series
- For India, this series was their first challenge after losing the World Test Championship final to Australia in June 2023. The Victory in the Caribbean gave India a strong start to the new cycle.
- The series also highlighted Yashasvi Jaiswal’s capacity as a dependable opener in Test cricket.
- Ravichandran Ashwin’s marvellous performance, enhanced the value of quality spin, even in homeaway conditions.
- This series exposed the weaknesses in both batting and bowling for West Indies. Their struggles against top-quality spin and lack of consistency were clear, showing areas where they need improvement.
Conclusion
The most recent Test series between India and West Indies was played in July 2023, it saw India win 1-0. Young emerging talent, Yashaswi Jaiswal’s superb debut, Virat Kohli’s
milestone century and Ravichandran Ashwin’s match-winning spells were the highlight of the series. Even though West Indies tried hard in the second Test, India’s stronger team and better balance made the difference in the Caribbean.
Written by Kinjal Walantra
