What Happened When India Last Played a Test Against West Indies in Dominica?
Virat Kohli had a forgettable debut Test series with just 76 runs across five innings (Twitter)
As Team India prepares for the upcoming first Test in Dominica, it's only fitting to reminisce about what happened the last time they took the field in The Nature Island. The date was July 6, 2011, and it was the third and final Test of an intense series against the West Indies that proved to be a climacteric in Indian cricket history.
Dravid & Kohli once again find themselves in Dominica but in different capacities
It was the moment where a young Virat Kohli was tested in his debut Test series and simultaneously the swansong of India's 'Wall' - Rahul Dravid, in the Caribbean.
With India clinching victory in the first game of the series and the second ending in a stalemate, all eyes were on the series decider in Roseau.
Batting first, West Indies managed a modest 204 in their first innings. Indian pacer, Ishant Sharma, emerged as the chief architect of the visitors’ stellar bowling display, bagging an impressive five-wicket haul.
The Indian response was an impressive 347, with a collective batting performance. Despite an early blow as Dravid was bowled for just 5 by Darren Sammy, the rest of the Indian line-up stood up. After failures in the first two Tests, Kohli, just cutting his teeth in international cricket, showed glimpses of his future greatness with a hard-fought 30.
Abhinav Mukund scored a patient 62 whereas skipper MS Dhoni played a captain's knock, top-scoring with 74, while Suresh Raina contributed a well-crafted half-century.
The Windies showed great character in their second innings, scoring 322 with Kirk Edwards and the ever-reliable Shivnarine Chanderpaul reaching the three-figure mark. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the bowlers with four scalps.
This set up an enthralling final day, with India needing 180 runs in 32 overs. However, they finished on 94/3 as play concluded, resulting in the match ending in a draw. Rahul Dravid, in his final Test in the Caribbean, remained unbeaten on 34 and was the leading run-getter in the series with 251 runs across six innings.
Today, as we look forward to 2023, the members of that memorable match find themselves in the West Indies once again. But their roles have evolved. Dravid, once the bulwark of the Indian batting, is now at the helm as India's head coach, moulding the future stars.
Kohli, who debuted under Dravid's watchful eyes, now stands as a seasoned stalwart with a whopping 109 Tests to his name. With such a historical backdrop, the upcoming Test series, starting Wednesday, July 12, promises to be a fascinating contest.
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