OTD Missing luggage held up Visakhapatnam ODI between India and West Indies in 1994

An ODI between India and the West Indies in Visakhapatnam started late due to an unusual reason – a delay in the arrival of the West Indian players’ kit luggage – on November 7, 1994.

The five-match ODI series between the two sides had an interesting schedule, as the Wills World Series was played between the second and third ODIs. The tri-series also featured New Zealand as the third team. India and West Indies faced off in the tournament final on November 5 at Eden Gardens, where India comfortably clinched victory.

Both teams then travelled to Visakhapatnam with just a day’s gap before resuming the bilateral ODI series. However, chaos ensued when the West Indian team’s kits accidentally ended up in Chennai instead of Vizag. Although the players themselves reached the venue via a Kolkata-Chennai-Vizag flight, their cricket gear did not make the same journey.

By the time the luggage arrived, daylight was fading, and the match was reduced to 44 overs per side due to the lack of floodlights at the venue. What may seem humorous today was, at the time, an embarrassing logistical mishap.

When play finally began, India batted first. Openers Sachin Tendulkar (54) and Ajay Jadeja (38) provided a solid start, followed by a commanding 113-run partnership between Navjot Singh Sidhu (113 off 103 balls) and Mohammad Azharuddin (45 off 46). India posted 260/4 in their allotted overs.

West Indies were set a target of 261 in 43 overs after being penalised one over for a slow over rate. Despite strong contributions from Phil Simmons (51), Stuart Williams (49), Brian Lara (39), and a blistering 74 off 47 balls from Carl Hooper, the visitors fell agonisingly short, losing by four runs.

India went on to win the final two ODIs, sealing the series 4–1, marking yet another memorable chapter in India’s cricketing history.