OTD 1971 | India won their Test target against West Indies at the 25th attempt

The West Indies team from the 1970s were considered the world beaters. With sublime batsmen and lethal bowlers at their helm, they were a nightmare for their opposition in every regard. However, the same couldn’t be said about the Indian cricket team from that era. Till that tour, the Indian side had only managed to win 16 of their 116 encounters, since making their inception in 1932. Amidst such dismal records, India toured the West Indies in 1971. On their last tour to Carebians in 1962, the Indian side was whitewashed 0-5.

The West Indies side boasted the likes of Clive Lloyd, Gary Sobers and Rohan Kanhai. However, the men in blue, led by their skipper Ajit Wadekar and young little master Sunil Gavaskar, were determined to take the bull by the horns. 

Sunil Gavaskar scored a mammoth 774 runs on his debut series and was greatly assisted by Sardesai, Salim Durani, Eknath Solkar, S Venkataraghavan, Erapalli Prasanna, Bishan Singh Bedi and others.

In the second test match at the Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first. The Indian spinners restricted the strong West Indian batting line-up to 214 runs. Prasanna was the pick of the bowlers with a 4-wicket haul in the first innings, Bishan Sigh Bedi also picked up 3 wickets. Charlie David’s unbeaten 71 runs helped West Indies go past 200. 

Sunil Gavaskar opened the innings with Ashok Mankad on his debut test. The little master made a solid start to his international career as he scored 65 runs. Sardesai’s century (112 runs) and Solkar’s 55 runs helped India post a decent first-innings score of 352 runs. West Indian off-spinner Jack Noriega bagged an incredible 9-wicket haul. 

West Indies started their second innings trailing 138 runs and were off to a decent start as the score read 150 for the loss of 1 wicket. However, fortunes turned once Ajit Wadekar introduced his spinner into the attack. Venkataraghavan initiated the West Indies collapse with a 5-wicket haul. West Indies were bundled out for 261 runs setting a target of 124 runs for the visitors. 

India got off to a solid start as the openers made a 74-run stand for the first wicket. West Indies did shake the Indian middle order as they picked up three successive wickets in quick succession. However, young Sunil Gavaskar held his nerves and guided India to victory with 7 wickets intact. The Indian team went on to clinch the series 1-0 as all other matches ended in stalemate.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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