India in Barbados: 7 losses and a Draw

West Indies have made Barbados invincible, not losing there almost for 50 years till 1994. But since then almost everyone has breched the Kensington Oval code, except India, who has played 8 matches and lost all, except a draw during their historical tour of 1971. Luckily during 2006 visit, India did not play any test at Barbados and managed to win the series 1-0. Here is a list and results of all the eight matches India has played there.

First Match: 1952/53 (2nd Test): Lost by 142 runs
India lost only one match in the series, and that was in Barbados. Winning the toss, WI captain Stollmeyer elected to bat and his team scored 296 runs, with Walcott scoring the only half-century (98 runs)of inning. Despite three half-centuries (64 by opener Apte, 63 by Captain Hazare, and 56 by Umrigar), Indians were bowled out on 253. Valentine’s 4/58 resulted in tumbling.

2nd Inning: WI were bowled out for 228, with captain Stollmeyer scoring the only half-century (54 runs) of the innings. Phadkar took 5/64. Needed 272 runs to win, Indians tumbled down to 129, with Ramadhin taking 5/26.

Second Match 1961/62 (3rd Test): Lost by an innings and 30 runs
WI captain Worrell sent India to bat and his bowlers packed India on 258 runs with captain Pataudi Junior 48 runs being the highest score. WI posted 475 runs, with 4 half-centuries (Solomon 96, Kanhai 89, Worrell 77, and opener Hunte 59).

2nd Innings: Magical bowling by Lance Gibbs of 8/38 saw India perish for just 187 runs in 185.3 overs. Sardesai (60) and Vijay Manjrekar (51) offerred some resistance, but the loss was inevitable. Two losses in 2 matches at Barbados.

Third Match– 1971: Draw
The first winning series of India against West Indies saw Barbados effect diminished in the 4th test. Captain Wadekar choose to field first, India saw WI scoring 501/5 with century from Captain Sobers (178*) and half centuries from opener Lewis (88), top order batsmen Kanhai (85) and C Davis (79). Century from Sardesai (150) and half century from Solkar (65) saw India avoiding follow on scoring 347 runs.

2nd Inning: WI added to its lead with quick 180/6 in 43 overs. But Indian batsmen chased the target of 355 runs with caution and Gavaskar’s unbeaten century (117*) saw them drawn the match scoring 221/5.

Fourth Match: 1975/76 – Lost by an Innings and 97 runs
Choosing to bat first in the first Test by Bedi proved fatal for India as the pace battery and spinner Holford (5/23) packed India on 177 in just 55th over, and then WI posted huge total of 488/9 runs, with captain Lloyd (102) and Richards (142) scoring centuries.

2nd Inning: India were bowled out on 214 runs, despite resistance by Viswanath (62) and Madan Lal (55*). Robers (3), Holding (2) and orthodox spinner Jumadeen (3) buried Indian batsmen.

Fifth match: 1982/83- Lost by 10 wickets
Kapil’s boys could not change history. Being sent to bat Indians were out for 209 with Amarnath scoring 91 runs. The pace battery of Holding (2), Roberts (4), Marshall (2) and Garner (2) did not let them breathe. WI, as expected posted another good total (486 runs) with century of Logie (130) and half-centuries of openers Greenidge (57) and Haynes (92), top order batsman Richards (80) and captain Lloyd (50).

2nd Innings: Indians could just equal the score, being bowled out now for 277 runs. Gaekwad (55) and Amarnath (80) posed little resistance and quadrat pace battery destroyed India again. WI completed the formality of scoring 1 run through a no ball of Indian wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani.

Player of the Match: Mohinder Amarnath

Sixth Match: 1988/89 – Ind lost by 8 wickets
Sent to bat first in the second test under Vengasarkar’s captaincy, India posted its highest total at Barbados scoring 321 runs with century of Sanjay Manjrekar (108) and 61 from Azharuddin. Bishop snapped 6/87. WI managed a lead of 56 runs with century from Greenidge (117) and 93 by Richardson. Shashtri with 4 wickets put up the challenge.

2nd Innings: With the bat Shastri scored a century (107) and 50 by wicketkeeper More helped India set a target of 196 runs. Marshall took 5/60.

Century from Haynes (112) and 59 by Richardson saw WI winningg by 8 wickets.

Player of the Match: Shastri

Seventh Match: 1996/97 Lost by 38 runs
Powered by the pack of Fabulous 4 in batting, India posed tougher challenge. Electing to field first Tendulkar’s bowlers packed WI on 298, as Chanderpaul scored 137* Prasad taking 5/82. India took a slender lead scoring 319, with half-centuries from Dravid (78) and Tendulkar (92).

2nd Innings: When Kuruvilla (5), Venkatesh (3) and Ganesh (2) bowled West Indies for 140, their lowest total against India at Barbados, the target of 120 runs was the easiest to rewrite history. But Bishop (4), Ambrose and Rose (3-each) sent India packing on mere 81 runs.

Player of the Match: Chanderpaul

Eight Match: 2002 – Lost by 10 wickets
Sent to bat first after Ganguly lost the toss, India were packed on 102 runs, with Dillon taking 4 wickets and Sanford 3. In reply WI took heavy lead scoring 394 runs with captain Hooper (115) and Chanderpaul (101 scoring centuries and sharing a stand of 215 runs. Sarwan (60) and Lara (55) also contributed well. Nehra (4), Harbhajan (3) and Zaheer (2) probably neded quicker wickets.

2nd Inings: India could not set a huge target. Scoring 296 runs with Captain Ganguly’s 60, and opener Jaffer’s 51, India could set a target of 5 runs. Dillon again did maximum damage taking 4/82.

Player of the Match: Dillon

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