5 Indian batsmen with maximum runs against West Indies in Test matches

Cricket rivalries have been an integral part of the game of cricket. The Indo-Caribbean rivalry is very old, going back to the 1960s when players like Vinoo Mankad, Frank Worrell, Lala Amarnath, and others dominated the stage. India won the first Test series against the West Indies by 1-0 in 1971. Ajit Wadekar led the team that time, and it became famous because Sunil Gavaskar made his debut. He scored 774 runs in four Test matches at an average of 154.

In the 1980s, players like Vivian Richards, Malcolm Marshall, Azharuddin, Kapil Dev, and others dominated the India-West Indies series with their performances. Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara marked the emergence of the new age players and in the 1990s and early 2000s players like Javagal Srinath, Rahul Dravid, Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and others dominated the scene.

West Indies is touring India for two Tests, and the time is ripe to inform the readers about the top five Indians with the highest Test runs against the West Indies.

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#5 Dilip Vengsarkar

Dilip Vengsarkar was a fine middle-order batsman who could play shots all around the park. His cover-drives and on-drives were marvelous. He made his debut in 1976 and was always an integral part of the Indian team until he retired.

One of his best innings against the West Indies came in 1983 at Delhi. Batting against the likes of Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, and Winston Davis, he plundered them all around the stadium to score 159 runs.

Overall, Vengsarkar played 25 Test matches against the West Indies and scored 1596 runs at an average of 44.33. This comprised 6 centuries and 7 half-centuries.

#4 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is considered by many as “God of Cricket.” The little fellow made his debut in 1989 against Pakistan. From that time onwards he was the pillar of Indian batting. There were no shots in the cricket books which he could not play to perfection. His straight-drives, pull-shots, and square-cuts were breath-taking to watch.

He played one of his best innings against the West Indies at Nagpur in 1994. Courtney Walsh, Kenny Benjamin, and Carl Hooper led the West Indies bowling. They drew the match, but Tendulkar won the heart of millions of Indians.

Sachin played 21 Test matches against the West Indies in his entire career. He scored 1630 runs at an average of 54.33 with 3 centuries and 10 half-centuries.

#3 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman was an elegant player who displayed excellent wrist work while batting. He could pull the ball effortlessly and play square-cuts neatly.

Laxman made his debut in 1996 against South Africa. His best innings against the West Indies came in 2011 in Kolkata when he scored 176 not out and won the match for India.

Laxman played 22 Test matches against the West Indies and scored 1715 runs at an average of 57.16. This comprised 4 centuries and 11 half-centuries.

#2 Rahul Dravid

They called him “The Wall.” He had one of the best techniques and was equipped with a sound temperament which enabled him to bat for long hours. Some of his signature shots were the square-cuts, pulls and hooks. He was the backbone of Indian batting for well over a decade.

Dravid played one of his best innings against the West Indies at Gros Islet in 2006. He made 146 runs against Dwayne Bravo, Pedro Collins, and Jerome Taylor.

Overall, Dravid played 23 Test matches against the West Indies and scored 1978 runs at an average of 63.8. This comprised 5 centuries and 13 half-centuries.

#1 Sunil Gavaskar

The “Little Master was a magical batsman who could play every shot in the books with perfection. He was a master of concentration, which enabled him to bat for long hours.

Gavaskar made his debut against the West Indies where they wrote a calypso to praise his batting. One of his best innings against them was 236 not out at Chennai in 1983. He demolished the likes of Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, and Michael Holding.

Gavaskar played 27 Test matches against the West Indies and scored 2749 runs at an average of 65.45. This comprised 13 centuries and 7 half-centuries.