India tour of West Indies 2019 - A look at Twenty20 contests and numbers

After the semi-final exit in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, amidst rumours of splits in the team and disharmony, Virat Kohli's Indian cricket team embark on a tour to the West Indies. Traditionally, tours to the West Indies in the recent past has seen the team aiming to rebuild for future events after the end of one event. In 2011, India had embarked on a tour to the Caribbean after the high of winning the World Cup after 28 years and they achieved tremendous success, winning a Twenty20 International, the ODI series 3-2 and the Test series 1-0. In 2016, India embarked on the tour to the Caribbean after the pain of the 2016 World T20 semi-final exit against the West Indies and they won the Tests 2-0 but lost the Twenty20 series 1-0. In 2017, India toured the Windies after losing the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 to Pakistan and they went on to win the ODIs 3-1 but lose the Twenty20 International.

With India embarking on a tour which will feature two Tests as part of the new World Test Championship, Kohli's side will be determined to avoid a slip-up and get back to winning ways in all formats. With all eyes on the next World T20 which will take place in 2020 in Australia, the upcoming three-match Twenty20 series will be the base for India's core team for the event. India does not have a good record in Twenty20 Internationals in the West Indies, losing three out five games and winning just one match with the other one being a no-result. Here is a look at the five Twenty20 Internationals that India has played in the West Indies.

1) Gayle force blows India away in Bridgetown - World T20 2010

The 2010 World T20 clash saw the Gayle-force in fine form. Chris Gayle, the captain of the West Indies team at that time, smashed 98 and the knock included five fours and seven sixes. Although the left-hander was unlucky to miss out on a ton, Gayle's knock ensured West Indies reached 169/6 after 20 overs. In response, a determined bowling effort from West Indies, led by Kemar Roach's 2/38 helped West Indies win by 14 runs and almost knock India out of the tournament.

Also Read | No rift in team India, says skipper Virat Kohli on reports of differences between him and Rohit

2) India break West Indies hoodoo in T20Is - 2011 one-off T20I

India was on a high after winning the World Cup after 28 years. They headed to the Caribbean and the first match was a one-off Twenty20 International. Subramaniam Badrinath hit 43 and was given good support by Rohit Sharma as India ended on 159/6. Harbhajan Singh took 2/25 and despite an aggressive 41 from Darren Bravo and 34 off 16 balls from Christopher Barnwell, India registered their first win in Twenty20 Internationals against the West Indies with a 16-run win.

Also Read | West Indies could give Virat Kohli's Indian cricket team tough challenge: Sir Viv Richards

3) The ultimate Twenty20 humdinger - 2016 Lauderhill

Florida had hosted a couple of Twenty20 Internationals but on August 27, 2016, the cricketing world witnessed a cricketing humdinger. Ewin Lewis blasted a 100 off 49 balls and Johnson Charles smashed 79 off 33 balls as West Indies notched up 245/6. In response, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul shared a partnership of 89 and 107 with MS Dhoni. Rahul blasted 110 and Dhoni, the master finisher was guiding India over the line. With eight runs needed off the last over bowled by Dwayne Bravo, India were still favourites for the win but Bravo held his nerve and West Indies pulled off an incredible one-run win. The aggregate of 489 runs was a world record at that time.

4) A farcical washout - 2016 Lauderhill

A day after the humdinger, a farce played out. The match was delayed not due to rain but because of a satellite transmission problem which resulted in a 40-minute start delay. India put up a much better performance with the ball as Amit Mishra took three wickets while Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets apiece to restrict West Indies to 143 all out. After two overs, India reached 15/0 when the rain came down. Since the ground had no super soppers, drying the outfield became a major challenge. The match was called off and West Indies had won the two-match series.

5) Lewis ton decimates India - 2017 Jamaica

India had won the ODI series 3-1 and was gunning to win the one-off Twenty20 International and end the tour on a high. Dinesh Karthik's 48 and Virat Kohli's 39 helped India reach 190/6. In response, Gayle was dismissed cheaply but Lewis once again showed his class in the shortest format as he tore into the Indian bowling. The left-hander hit 12 sixes and six fours as he smashed his second Twenty20 International ton to power West Indies to a nine-wicket win.

RELATED

HIGHLIGHTS

• India last won a Twenty20 International against West Indies in 2011.
• India has lost three T20Is against West Indies.
• KL Rahul scored his first century in T20Is against West Indies.