India’s 2-0 Triumph Highlights Deep Crisis Within West Indies Cricket

India capped a dominant 2-0 series victory over a hapless West Indies on Tuesday, chasing down 121 runs in the second Test at Arun Jaitley Stadium to secure a seven-wicket win and complete a clean sweep. KL Rahul's unbeaten 58 guided the hosts home in just over an hour on the final day, while Ravindra Jadeja's all-round excellence earned him Player of the Series honours. The result extended India's unbeaten streak against the Caribbean side to 10 consecutive Test series triumphs since 2002, underscoring the visitors' persistent struggles in the longest format. For new captain Shubman Gill, the series marked his first home victory, providing a morale boost ahead of tougher assignments like the tour of Australia.

The first Test in Ahmedabad set the tone for West Indies' woes, crumbling to an innings and 140-run defeat inside three days after being bowled out for 162 and 146 against India's 448 for five declared. Centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Gill, coupled with Jadeja's 104 not out and four wickets, highlighted the gulf in class. In Delhi, despite gritty resistance from John Campbell (115) and Shai Hope (103) in the second innings, West Indies' first-innings total of 248 left them trailing by 270 runs. Kuldeep Yadav's 5 for 82 in the first dig and Jasprit Bumrah's three wickets proved decisive, as India's bowlers exploited a brittle batting lineup averaging below 35 in recent tests. The series loss leaves the West Indies winless in four World Test Championship outings this cycle; their away record since 2010 is a dismal 11 victories from 61 matches.

The West Indies' descent from the fearsome force of the 1970s and 1980s—when they ruled with an unbeaten streak of 11 Tests and two World Cup titles—has been marked by chronic underperformance. Over the past 15 years, they've secured just 33 of 127 tests, failing to beat powerhouses like India since 2002 or South Africa since 2007. This era of invincibility, fuelled by icons like Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall, and Clive Lloyd, symbolised Caribbean unity and pride amid decolonisation, but it now feels like a "glorious accident of fate". Sporadic highs against England or Pakistan offer fleeting hope, yet against top teams, they falter amid hurricanes of inconsistency.

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At the heart of the malaise lies Cricket West Indies' (CWI) mismanagement, plagued by governance disputes among its federated boards from Jamaica to Trinidad and Tobago, leading to high administrative turnover and inadequate grassroots investment. With a combined population of about six million across 15 nations, the talent pool is shallow, exacerbated by the lure of lucrative T20 leagues like the IPL and Big Bash, where stars like Andre Russell and Sunil Narine prioritise franchise deals over national duty to avoid injuries and secure financial stability. Economic constraints in the region have dwindled domestic cricket—regional teams played just 10 first-class games in recent years—stifling player development. Athletics and football, offering quicker rewards and scholarships abroad, poach promising athletes; Olympic hurdles champion Rai Benjamin, son of former pacer Winston Benjamin, exemplifies this shift. Players like Jofra Archer, who opted for England, highlight how rival nations syphon talent.

As the West Indies lick their wounds, head coach Darren Sammy likened the issues to a "cancer in the system", calling for urgent reforms, including better funding and incentives for Test cricket. While their white-ball game shows resilience—evident in T20 successes—the red-ball format demands a cultural revival to reclaim lost glory. For now, the once-formidable giants remain marooned, their storied legacy a poignant reminder of cricket's uneven tides

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