When we talk about the greatest ever batting performance by an Indian against the West Indies, Sunil Gavaskar’s monumental 236 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in 1983* stands tall above all.
The Little Master displayed his sheer class and unbreakable temperament, crafting a mammoth innings of 236 runs off 425 balls. At that time, it was the highest individual score by an Indian, a record that stood proudly until it was broken by VVS Laxman in 2001.
The last Test of the series between India and the mighty West Indies took place at Chennai’s M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. The West Indies batted first, scoring 313, a decent total on a tough Chennai surface. Larry Gomes and Clive Lloyd scored crucial runs, but India’s bowlers, led by Kapil Dev, bowled with control and discipline to keep the world champions at bay.
When India walked out to bat, their top order struggled against the blistering speed of Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding. With only 92 runs on the board, half of the Indian team was quickly relegated to the pavilion, and another humiliating defeat appeared likely.
But this time, Sunil Gavaskar stood tall, he constituted the barrier between India and defeat. First, he anchored the innings with a superb 170-run stand with Ravi Shastri, facing the formidable West Indian assault. Then, with impeccable technique and unwavering focus, he batted through the fifth day, carrying his bat until India proclaimed their innings at 451/8.
Gavaskar’s unbeaten 236 not only saved India from defeat but also restored pride and confidence to a team that had been battered earlier in the series. It remains one of the most technically perfect and mentally strong innings ever played by an Indian batsman, a timeless display of courage, patience, and pure cricketing brilliance.
Why This Stat Reflects Greatness in Test Cricket
It was December 1983. India had just enjoyed its greatest cricketing achievement by winning the World Cup earlier that year, but the scenario in Test cricket was drastically different. The formidable West Indies, captained by Clive Lloyd and armed with one of the world’s most terrifying pace attacks, had previously destroyed India, taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the six-match series. By the time the teams arrived in Chennai for the last test, India was battling not for the series but for pride, dignity, and self-esteem on home turf.
Sunil Gavaskar’s plan was simple but audacious. He chose to play each ball on its own merit and deny the bowlers any opportunity to exploit the surface. The Little Master batted for seven consecutive sessions and more than ten hours, and when asked about the match, he stated he had decided early on that he would not defend passively but would play each ball on its merits.
His footwork was excellent, as he constantly stepped just below the line with each delivery. His concentration was incredible, as he batted for over ten hours without a single incorrect stroke. He never appeared to be in serious difficulty, even as Marshall, Holding, and Roberts tried everything in their arsenal, from bouncers and yorkers to sharp cutters.
Every short ball he encountered, he swayed away from or rolled his wrists to play with delicacy, and every full delivery, he drove or flicked with pinpoint accuracy. It was a true masterclass in technique, patience, and mental fortitude, an innings that left the entire cricketing world speechless.
Top 5 Best Batting Performances in Tests against West Indies
1. Sunil Gavaskar – 236 runs
- Sunil Gavaskar played for the Indian cricket team between 1971 and 1987
- Sunil Gavaskar was India’s finest batsman in the 1980s, with an unblemished record against the powerful West Indies. His 236-run innings came just as India was about to suffer a humiliating defeat. Although India eventually lost the series, Gavaskar’s outstanding batting rescued the game and the team’s honor.
- Lil Master batted for three days and seven sessions to save the match.
2. Sunil Gavaskar – 220 & 124 runs
India’s tour of the West Indies in 1971 was Sunil Gavaskar’s debut Test series.
It was the last match of the series, played at Port of Spain on 13 April 1971. Sunil Gavaskar scored 124 in the first innings and followed it up with a magnificent 220 in the second innings. India drew the match and won the series 1–0 and this was India’s first-ever Test series win in the West Indies.
Sunil Gavaskar won Man of the Series for his remarkable performance during the 1971 West Indies tour, accumulating 774 runs. This astounding achievement remains the maximum number of runs scored by an Indian batsman in their debut Test series.
3. Virat Kohli – 200 runs
- Virat Kohli is rated the best batsman in the world today. He represented India in tests from 2009 to 2025 (and is currently active in one-day internationals).
- Virat Kohli scored a brilliant 200 runs against the West Indies on 1st July 2016 at North Sound. India won the match by an innings and 40 runs, marking India’s biggest Test victory in the West Indies up to that date.
- This was Kohli’s first double century in Test cricket, and the innings, along with the commanding win, is often regarded as the beginning of his dominance as a Test captain, showcasing his ability to lead from the front with both bat and strategy.
4. Sachin Tendulkar – 179 runs
- Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as the greatest batsman in the history of cricket and often called the “God of Cricket,” represented India from 1989 to 2013.
- During the second Test of the West Indies tour of India in 1994, held in Nagpur from 1st December, India, already leading the series 1–0, batted first. With a sublime innings of 179 runs from Tendulkar, India completely outplayed the Caribbean side.
- At just 21 years old, Tendulkar faced legendary fast bowlers Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, displaying perfect balance, timing, and elegance. This series is also seen as the beginning of India’s growing dominance against the mighty West Indies in Test cricket.
5. Virendra Sehwag – 180
- Virendra Sehwag represented India from 1999 to 2013
- This was India’s second Test during its 2006 tour of the West Indies. Batting first, India scored a massive total, with Virender Sehwag smashing 180 runs off just 190 balls. True to form, Sehwag’s blazing performance ripped through the West Indian bowling attack on a lively field, giving India an early advantage in the series.