India vs West Indies Test Series – Winners, Highlights, and Key Performances

India vs West Indies Key Moments

Initially, from the late 1940s to the 1960s, the West Indies team was powerful and won most of the Test series against India. Their fast bowlers and powerful batsmen were difficult for India to beat. For example, they won all 5 Tests in the 1961-62 series by a significant margin of 5-0. This period showed the West Indies as one of the best teams in the world.

India’s First Big Win in West Indies – 1970/71

The turning point came in the 1970-71 series when India visited the West Indies and won the series 1-0 for the first time. Sunil Gavaskar, a young, talented batsman, made 774 runs in this series, including three centuries on his debut. This victory gave India confidence and marked the start of its rise as a strong cricket team.

Back and Forth in the 70s and 80s

The teams continued to compete fiercely in the 1970s and 1980s. West Indies remained tough with legends like Viv Richards and Malcolm Marshall leading the way. In the 1983-84 series in India, the West Indies won 3-0, thanks to their outstanding bowling and batting, despite India having stars like Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar, who set outstanding personal records during the series.

The Unbreakable Debut Performance by Narendra Hirwani – 16/136

Hirwani still holds the best-ever debut record till now with 16 wickets for 136 runs against the West Indies team in the 4th test match. He took eight wickets in each innings to help India win the match by 255 runs.

India’s Growing Strength from the 2000s

Since the early 2000s, India has generally taken control of the rivalry, especially with aggressive batting by players like Virender Sehwag and strong bowling attacks.

India won the series both at home and away, similar to the 2006 series, where they won 1-0 in the West Indies, as well as multiple series in the 2010s and 2020s.

Recent Series and Standout Players

In recent series from 2018 to 2025, India has been the dominant team. Jasprit Bumrah’s fast bowling and Shubman Gill’s solid batting have been key to India’s wins.

Famous Moments to Remember

• In 1970-71, Gavaskar made his debut by scoring heavily and leading India to their first victory in the West Indies.
• In 1983-84, the West Indies returned to India after losing the World Cup final, in the aftermath of the gentlemen’s game.
• In 1987/88, Narendra Hirwani – 16/136 (Chennai)
• In recent times, India has demonstrated its dominance through unparalleled partnerships and resolute bowling, as exemplified by the records shattered by the West Indies in 2025, notably by Shubman Gill.
• For the West Indies, John Campbell’s 2025 century was the first score by an opener in 23 years in India, and was a rare recording.

FAQs

Up to the 2025/26 series, both India and the West Indies have won 12 Test series each, making it one of cricket’s most balanced rivalries.

In 1988, Hirwani took 16 wickets for 136 runs against the West Indies. It is still considered the best debut performance in Test cricket history.

India’s strong performance came from Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ravindra Jadeja. For the West Indies, John Campbell stood out with a remarkable century in India after more than two decades.