India vs West Indies: Ranking Top 10 Highest Individual Test Score
Sunil Gavaskar, the standout as we look at the top 10 highest individual Test score by Team India players vs WI in West Indies.
Team India have been touring the West Indies since 1953; that’s almost 70 years. There have been a total of 51 Test matches played between these two teams in the 70 years of competitive cricket between them. Of the 51 matches, India have won 9 times, West Indies 16 times and 26 matches have ended in a draw.
The 51 matches have seen Indian players scoring a total of 45 centuries including 5 double centuries. Sunil Gavaskar has hit the most number of centuries, 7. He is followed by Rahul Dravid, Polly Umrigar, and Dilip Sardesai with 3 centuries each.
But how about the highest individual Test score by Indian players vs West Indies in West Indies? Well, let’s look at the ranking of the top 10 highest individual Test score by Team India players vs West Indies in West Indies. The ranking as shared below is based on the individual player’s score.
Highest Individual Test Score by Team India Players vs/in West Indies:
#10: Sunil Gavaskar’s 156
Score: 156(352) // 4s: 13 // 6s: 0 // SR: 44.3
Sunil Gavaskar is regarded as a legend in Tests in West Indies, and this 156 is one of the seven centuries he hit in the West Indies. This comes during the 1976 tour where Sunil Gavaskar hit a brilliant 156 off 352 balls in the first innings to give India 161 runs lead. Unfortunately, the match ended in a draw even after Gavaskar’s stunning knock.
#9: KL Rahul’s 158
Score: 158(303) // 4s: 15 // 6s: 3 // SR: 52.1
At number 9, we have KL Rahul’s brilliant 158 in the first innings of the 2nd Test during the 2016 tour. Another instance where West Indies managed to sneak in a draw even as India had a massive first-innings lead. KL Rahul scored a stunning 158 off 303 balls to lift India to 500/9d in the first innings. KL hit 3 sixes in the innings; the most among the top 10 highest runs scored.
#8: Madhav Apte’s 163
Score: 163*(-) // 4s: – // 6s: – // SR: –
A century in the second innings is often considered gold, and this knock came during the 1953 tour of the West Indies. Madhav Apte, who represented India in 7 Tests with an average of 49.3 scored a superb 163 – his highest score in Tests to help post a respectable target of 327 for West Indies. Unfortunately, the match ended in a draw.
#7: Polly Umrigar’s 172
Score: 172*(248) // 4s: – // 6s: – // SR: 69.2
Another second innings masterclass, this time from one of India’s best Test batters, Polly Umrigar. During India’s tour of the West Indies in 1962, India were following on after conceding a 247 runs lead. With India reeling at 192/4, Polly gave India some hope with his 172 off 248 balls to lift India to 422. Even though India lost the match, Polly’s fighting knock was the highlight.
#6: Virender Sehwag’s 180
Score: 180(190) // 4s: 20 // 6s: 2 // SR: 94.7
Talk about scoring big centuries at a faster pace, one name would always come on top, and that is Virender Sehwag. This particular knock came during India’s tour of the West Indies in 2006. Sehwag lit the Gros Islet stadium with a stunning 180 off 190 balls. India scored a mammoth 588/9; their highest score in Tests in West Indies. Unfortunately, this match too ended in a draw as Rain played a spoil-sport.
#5: Virat Kohli’s 200
Score: 200(283) // 4s: 24 // 6s: 0 // SR: 70.7
Finally, the only knock in a winning cause in this list comes from Virat Kohli’s 200 during India’s tour of the West Indies in 2016. Batting first in the first Test at North Sound, Virat Kohli scored his only double hundred in West Indies as India scored a mammoth 566/8; their second-highest score in Tests in West Indies. In reply, West Indies managed 243 and 231 runs respectively as India won by an innings and 92 runs.
#4: Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 201
Score: 201(491) // 4s: 19 // 6s: 1 // SR: 40.9
After seeing our first and only match-winning performance, we are back to another draw, During India’s tour of the West Indies in 1997, Novjot Singh Sidhu scored a stunning 201 off 491 balls to lift India to 436 off 183 overs in the first innings. India got a crucial 140 runs lead, but the match still ended in a draw, probably due to India’s slow RPO.
#3: Wasim Jaffer’s 212
Score: 212(399) // 4s: 24 // 6s: 1 // SR: 53.1
At number 3, we have a stunning 212 by Wasim Jaffer during India’s tour of the West Indies in 2006. But as the usual case has been, this knock too comes in a draw even after India scored a massive 521/6 in the second innings. The standout thing about this knock is that this double hundred comes in the second innings.
#2: Dilip Sardesai’s 212
Score: 212(-) // 4s: 17 // 6s: 1 // SR: –
The year is 1971, and we have Dilip Sardesai’s 212 as the second-highest individual score by an Indian player in Tests in West Indies. Dilip Sardesai scored a stunning 212 in the first innings of the first Test match. Sardesai scored 54.8% of India’s runs to help India reach 387. Unfortunately, the match ended in a draw as West Indies scored 217 and 385 runs respectively.
#1: Sunil Gavaskar’s 220
Score: 220(-) // 4s: 22 // 6s: 0 // SR: –
Scoring a hundred in overseas conditions is itself a stunning feat, but if that comes in the second innings of a Test match, there is no better feeling. This match has to be the most special for Gavaskar as he scored a century in both innings of the Test match. He hit 124 in the first innings and then followed with 220 in the second innings. However, as has been the case, this match too ended in a draw.
So, that’s about the highest individual Test score by Team India batters vs West Indies
Thanks for reading! Which is your take on the highest individual Test score by Team India batters vs West Indies? Please email your thoughts to business@cric8fanatic.com
ALSO READ: IPL 2023: All 16 Seasons Fastest Individual Century in Each Year
