In light of the ongoing Test series, what does India versus West Indies mean to a young Cricket fan? Perhaps, merely a match-up of the highest ranked team in world Cricket with the team ranking No. 8 and struggling to find form. To a different generation, however, this rivalry meant something much more. To the older lads, West Indies versus India in Test Cricket was quality beyond all measure on display. It was a show of Gavaskar’s relentless defense, Kapil Dev’s unplayable swing, Clive Lloyd’s unceasingly intense yet calculated hitting and Malcolm Marshall’s menacing bouncers.

There was mystery, excitement, but most of all – there was fire. The Indian fans felt the heat. They felt every one of those stinging bouncers and piercing yorkers. They rejoiced every time Gavaskar raised his bat to celebrate another achievement against the storm of a side that was the West Indies. They were definitely a force to be reckoned with, and India responded with some fire of their own over the years.

India and West Indies have met one another in Tests 96 times, of which India has won 20 and drawn 46. Sunil Gavaskar leads the highest run chart in this rivalry with 2749 runs, which are also more runs than any Test Cricketer has scored against the West Indian side. Averaging 65.45, Gavaskar hit 13 amazing 100’s and seven 50’s against West Indies. His average against West Indies in West Indies actually climbs to a mammoth 70.2. The other names in the top ten leading run scorers in India versus West Indies Tests also come as no surprise:

Moreover, Kapil Dev leads the charts on the other end with 89 wickets versus West Indies in Test Cricket, averaging just 24.89 in 25 matches. He also happens to be the second highest wicket-taker in Test Cricket ever, against the West Indies, trailing only McGrath who had 110 wickets to his name. Following are the top ten wicket-takers in West Indies vs India rivalry in Test Cricket:

Although West Indies does hold an edge over India in their overall record, the new West Indies side still has a lot to prove when it comes to a rivalry with India in Test Cricket. In the 21st century, West Indies has won just two out of twenty seven Test matches versus India.

It speaks volumes that the Captain of the Indian side, Virat Kohli, averages 43.43 versus West Indies in Test Cricket whereas his West Indian counterpart, Jason Holder, averages just 29 against India. It could be argued that Holder is a bowling all-rounder, but in the six matches he has bowled against India in Test Cricket, he has picked up six wickets at an average of 53.33. In fact, in the line-up of the first Test match against India, apart from Roston Chase, not a single other player averages over 40 against India in Test Cricket. Darren Bravo is the only other player whose batting average even climbs over 30 against India.

The bowling department has also not been any better in Test cricket. Since 2010, the top five West Indian wicket-takers versus India also happen to have worrying averages. Bishoo, at the top with 27 wickets, averages 52.25. Not only are the bowling averages worrying, but the fact remains that Sammy, Rampual, and Bishoo do not even feature in the Test side. Gabriel, who is fifth on this list, averages 48.18 versus India since 2010.

While it is true that players like Chase, Holder, and Hetmyer have shown some promise in this format of the game, West Indies have certainly not been doing enough to upset the world’s strongest Test side. In light of this, it is likely that up against Kohli’s men, another win in this century will need their best performance and then something more spectacular on top to bring the fire back into this contest.

–Fatima Sajid

Fatima is a cricket writer based in Pakistan.