3 Indian batsmen with the most Test runs in West Indies

India kick-started their 2019 West Indies tour by whitewashing the host nation in a three-match T20I series. Post that, India won the rain-marred ODI series by a comfortable 2-0 margin.

With India claiming comfortable wins in the LOI formats, the two teams will kick-start their ICC World Test Championship journey on August 22nd with the first Test match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

In the 21st century, West Indies’ decline in the longest format of the game is a well-known fact amongst the cricketing fraternity. Since the 2002 West Indies tour, India haven't lost a Test series against West Indies, either at home or in the West Indies which will see the visitors come into this game with the favorites tag.

As we buildup to the upcoming opening Test match, let us look at three Indian batsmen who have scored the most Test runs in West Indies.

#3 VVS Laxman

Former middle-order batsman VVS Laxman played his maiden Test in West Indies during the 1996-97 tour. Interestingly, he featured as an opener in that Test series and from four Test matches, he managed to score 172 runs with two half-centuries.

In India's next tour to the West Indies in 2001-2002, Laxman played five games and scored 474 runs from eight innings, including four half-centuries and one century. In the 2006 tour, he scored only 257 runs with one century and one half-century in seven innings.

In the 2011 Test series, he was in fine form as he scored 243 runs from three matches, including three half-centuries as India won the series by a 1-0 margin.

Overall, Laxman scored 1146 runs in his 27 innings in West Indies with two centuries and ten half-centuries to his name.

Matches - 16, Innings - 27, Runs - 1146, Highest score – 130

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#2 Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar made his Test debut in West Indies during the famous 1970-71 tour to the Carribean islands. After a drawn first Test match, Gavaskar was drafted into the playing XI in the second Test, and the rest is history.

He managed to score at least a half-century in seven of his eight innings in that series and overall, he amassed 774 runs from eight innings with four centuries and three half-centuries.

In particular, he scored two crucial fifties in his debut match that resulted in a victory for India. He ended the series with a superb knock of 220 runs in the second innings of the fifth and final Test. His batting average of 154.80 in that series was a sign of things to come in the future as his consistency went a long way in helping India register their first-ever Test series win in West Indies.

In the 1975-76 tour, Gavaskar went up against the fearsome bowling duo of Andy Roberts and Michael Holding. Yet, he managed to score 390 runs in his seven innings with two centuries and one half-century. In particular, Gavaskar’s century in the third Test helped India to chase down a massive target of 403 runs.

However, Gavaskar’s excellent run of form in West Indies ended during the 1982-83 tour. In nine innings, he managed to score only 240 runs with 147 of them coming in a single inning.

Overall, Gavaskar scored 1404 runs in his 24 innings with seven centuries and four half-centuries in West Indies.

Matches - 13, Innings - 24, Runs - 1404, Highest score - 220

#1 Rahul Dravid

Former Indian skipper Rahul Dravid is undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in the history of Test cricket. Dravid is one among the very few players to score at least one century against each of the nine Test-playing nations during his time.

Going by statistics, West Indies was one of Dravid’s favorite hunting grounds outside India. Similar to Laxman, Dravid was also a part of 1996-97, 2002, 2006, and 2011 squads which toured the Carribean nation.

In his maiden Test to tour West Indies in 1996-97, Dravid topped the run charts for India with 360 runs from seven innings. His excellent form continued in the 2002 tour as he scored 404 runs from eight innings with one century and two half-centuries.

In the 2006 tour, Dravid led his team from the front by finishing as the highest run-scorer of the series. From seven innings, he scored 496 runs with one century and four half-centuries. In particular, he scored two vital half-centuries in the fourth Test that helped India win their first Test series in the Caribbean post the series win in 1970-71.

In the 2011 tour, Dravid once again topped the runs chart by scoring 251 runs in three Tests. His century in the second innings of the first Test once again helped India to win a Test match in West Indies. Besides, the victory also ultimately resulted in the series win for India as the other two games finished without a result.

Overall, Dravid amassed 1511 runs from 17 Tests in the West Indies with three centuries and 11 half-centuries.

Matches - 17, Innings - 28, Runs - 1511, Highest score – 146