The West Indies’ prolonged decline over the years was a few days testified by the fact that they failed to qualify for this year’s ODI World Cup. It is the first time in the history of the tournament that it will be played without the two-time champions. Shortly after their failed World Cup qualification campaign, the West Indies fell to a ninth consecutive Test series defeat to India at home.
Former India captain Kapil Dev is among those who faced the West Indies at their prime. The Carribean side had won the first two editions of the World Cup and were heavy favourites to win the third edition as well in 1983. But, they ended up losing to Kapil’s Indian team, who had come into the tournament as rank outsiders. Interestingly, Kapil has managed to be on the winning side of a Test series against the West Indies just once in his 16-year-long international career.
“It is painful to see the West Indies not playing in the World Cup. It is tough to imagine an ODI tournament without them. They have produced such great players. I don’t know what is hurting them now but, hopefully, they will make a comeback,” said Kapil according to TOI. A defeat to Scotland in the Super Six stage of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe sealed the West Indies’ fate.
Later there were some positives to take away as the West Indies prevented a strong Indian side from taking full World Test Championship points from them by putting down the anchor with the bat in the second Test. The West Indies ensured that they batted out the third and much of the fourth day of the Test and with the fifth day washed out, the match ended in a draw. It was an improvement from the result in the first Test, which they lost by an innings and 141 runs after being blown away for 150 and 130 runs in the two innings.
