India win West Indies Test series 1-0 as rain washes out final day

The second and last Test between West Indies and India was drawn on Monday, July 24, after play was not possible on Day 5 in Trinidad due to rain.

As a result, India won the two-Test series 1-0. Both sides earned four World Test Championship 2023-25 points each from the game.

After the annihilation in the first Test in Dominica, West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl first this time around hoping to put on a better show.

India's domination with the bat, however, continued as they looked at ease once again. The visitors posted a mammoth 438 on the board in the first innings. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal continued from where they left as the pair managed to see the new ball off with ease. Rohit missed out on a ton by just 20 runs, while Jaiswal, who got off to a blistering start in his Test career with a knock of 171 on debut, once again looked impressive in his knock of 57.

Virat Kohli rose up to the occasion, scoring his 76th international century in a historic 500th international game for him. He got off to a slow start, but he was soon accustomed to the pace and bounce of the wicket. Once set, he played some delightful strokes oozing class. Although he was run out after scoring 121, he had done enough to help India to a competitive total on a track that had little assistance for the bowlers.

Also Read: Virat Kohli becomes 5th highest international run-scorer

Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin chipped in with handy half-centuries as well, pushing India's total towards 450. Jomel Warrican and Kemar Roach picked three wickets apiece in the first innings.

India
Photo by Icon Sport

With the bat, West Indies looked solid this time around than they did in the first Test, led by Kraigg Brathwaite, who scored a valiant 77 in the first innings, playing a captain's knock.

Alick Athanaze and Kirk McKenzie scored only 37 and 32, respectively in the first innings, but they showed promise. They displayed a positive attitude despite having a massive deficit to overcome and looked technically strong. The hosts lost only four wickets on day three as the Indian bowlers toiled hard.

The Indians came out rejuvenated the next day, as the home side lost their last five wickets in the first innings for only 26 runs in the first hour. Mohammad Siraj, who made little contribution in the first Test, wreaked havoc with the second new ball. He notched a 5-fer, the second of his Test career, and triggered a West Indies collapse, as they were all out for 255. His spell on Sunday morning read 13-4 in only 3.4 overs.

India on the charge in second innings

Having a lead of 183 and with rain interrupting the game constantly, Rohit and his men went about proceedings a lot quicker in the second innings. The skipper got to his fifty off just 35 deliveries, making it his fastest-ever in Test cricket. Jaiswal once again provided India with a really good start, scoring a quickfire 38. Two games into his Test career, the left-handed opener averages a whopping 88.67. An unshackled Ishan Kishan, who was promoted to number 4 and given the freedom to play his naturally aggressive game, got to his maiden Test fifty as well.

The visitors added 181 runs to their lead of 183 and posted a target of 365 for the home side.

In the fourth innings of the game, only 32 overs of play were possible due to rain and a wet outfield. West Indies lost Brathwaite and Mckenzie on Day four, while Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Jermaine Blackwood remained unbeaten.

The last day ended without any action at all, and the match was drawn, with India clinching the series 1-0.

The action will now resume on Thursday, July 27, when the three-game ODI series commences at Bridgetown, Barbados. A total of five T20Is will also be contested between the two sides; the first one being on Thursday, August 3.

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A strong believer in the fact that Kohli and Paes are the greatest Indian superstars!