The result of the second test match being played between India and West Indies will now come on the 5th day. This match was very exciting. Because Team India, batting first, declared its innings at 518. Captain Gill felt that this score was enough for a weak team like West Indies. When the first innings of West Indies was limited to 248, India also decided to follow in extreme enthusiasm.
But the visiting West Indies team batted brilliantly and along with saving the follow-on, also took a lead of 121 runs over India. Now India has to chase this score to win this match. Although this total may seem a little small. But India’s past experiences with West Indies have not been anything special in this matter. Let me tell you a 28 year old story, when a small total cost India a lot and India lost the match.
Also read: IND vs WI Highlights: End of third day’s play in Delhi Test, West Indies score 173/2, excellent batting by John Campbell-Shai Hope
Let’s know the 28 year old story…
There have been many memorable moments in the history of Indian cricket. Some are associated with victory, some with defeat. The Barbados Test against West Indies in 1997 was one such moment, which Indian cricket fans have not been able to forget till date. in this match Sachin Tendulkar Under the captaincy of India, while chasing a modest target of 119 runs, it was all out for just 81 runs.
Know about that match
In the year 1997, India was on West Indies tour. The first two test matches were drawn, so the third test was to prove decisive. This match was played at Kensington Oval, Barbados. West Indies had scored 289 runs in the first innings, in which Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored a brilliant century. Bowlers Abe Kuruvilla and Anil Kumble bowled well for India.
Also read: IND vs WI: Kuldeep Yadav scored an unwanted ‘century’ in Delhi Test, made a shameful record
Indian batting held well in the first innings. Thanks to the partnership of captain Sachin Tendulkar (92) and Rahul Dravid (78), India scored 319 runs and took a lead of 30 runs. It seemed that India was in complete control of this match.
Second innings of West Indies and small target for India
Indian bowlers maintained their dominance in the second innings. West Indies team was reduced to 140 runs. In this way, India had a target of only 119 runs to win. Which seemed very easy on paper. But the conditions on the Barbados pitch were gradually turning against the batsmen. The mixture of both bounce and spin was going to create problems for the Indian batsmen.
disintegration of indian batting
The beginning of India’s second innings was dreadful. West Indies fast bowlers Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh badly shook the Indian top order. Wickets kept falling, and no batsman could stay on the crease.
VVS Laxman played as an opener in that match and became the team’s highest scorer by scoring only 19 runs. The rest of the batsmen could not even cross the double figures. Within a few overs, India’s innings was reduced to 81 runs, and West Indies won the match by 38 runs.
Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid broke up
This defeat was very disappointing for the Indian team. Sachin Tendulkar, who was captaining the Test for the first time at that time, was deeply hurt by this defeat. Later he admitted that this match shook him so much that he thought of staying away from cricket for some time.
The Barbados Test is counted among the most unexpected and tragic defeats in the history of Indian cricket. This match shows that no target is small in cricket. However, to win the Delhi Test, India needs to score only 58 runs and has 9 wickets in hand. But considering past experiences, India would not like to make any mistakes.
—- End —-
