With no play being possible, after the first day’s only session in the final Test match at Port of Spain, India, the way they played certainly lost a big chance to win the series 3-0. In fact they never did before overseas, although India have scored some outstanding wins outside their own territory. Who will forget the historic win against the same West Indies in 1975, when they chased 400 plus, with little masters Sunil Gavaskar and GR Vishwanath scoring fantastic centuries.
The present West Indian team may be without any stars, but full marks to the Virat Kohli led Indian young team for creating history in the West Indies India and West Indies started playing against each other way back in 1948. And the first twenty years West Indies dominated like anything, winning 12 Tests, with India only managing to draw on some occasions. India in fact registered their first Test win at Parts of Spain, in 1971.
But the last one and half decades, West Indies have found India a hard to crack. It was almost more than twelve years ago West Indies had beaten India in a Test match. It was at Sabina Park, with Wavel Hinds scoring a fine century. And since then whether the Carribeans played at home or toured India, they have struggled to compete with India. It is indeed hard to believe that the West Indies, who were invincible in late 70s and 80’s have not been able to produce players in the last one and half decades to win them matches. They were even humiliated by Bangladesh some years ago. Well some financial issues might have been bothering them, but it is a lame excuse if they mention it repeatedly.
In the past if the batsmen failed, the bowlers would do the job and if the bowlers struggled, their batters won them matches. Well you cant of course expect to have players like Richards’, Sobers’, Marshals and Holdings in all generations, but the present bunch of players, barring a few don’t seem to be interested in playing Tests. One example of why Gayle has not been evincing any interest in Test cricket is enough to understand.
Anyway, Ravichandran Ashwin was the star for India. He not only scored two centuries but also had two five-wickets haul. Only three have been able to achieve this rare feat, although no comparison to Ian Botham’s magnificent show in the early 80’s show against Australia. But it is good for Indian cricket that he has improved his batting by leaps and bounds and is also picking wickets outside India.
There were so many other plus points too in this series. The pacers Ishant, Umesh, Bhuvi and Shami bowled superbly in the matches they got chances to play. And Kohli cleverly used them, going by the nature of the wicket. Wridiman Saha, KL Rahul batted nicely, alsong with skipper Kohli. Rahane too played well, while Cheteshwar Pujara disappointed. Hope this young Indian side will do better and better in the years to come.
One has to wait and see how they will bowl in the Duleep Trophy, which has got underway in Greater Noida today. The news that the pacers enjoying bounce with the newly introuduced pink ball will certainly boost them when they come back and join their respective teams.
Sudeer Mahavaadi – DD commentator
