India thrashed the West Indies by an innings and 140 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium on October 4, 2025, posting a 448‑run total that wrapped up the first Test in just three days. The showdown, part of the India vs West Indies 1st TestAhmedabad, saw three Indian batsmen hit centuries while the pacers and a lone spinner dismantled the Caribbean side twice.
Back to Home Glory: Recent Test Form
India’s return to home Test cricket had been anything but smooth. A 3‑0 whitewash by New Zealand in late 2024, followed by a 3‑1 drubbing in Australia, left the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) scrambling for answers. The loss meant India missed the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time since the competition’s inception. Fans were restless, pundits outspoken, and the team desperate to cling to any momentum before the New Year.
Enter the 2025‑27 WTC cycle, which kicked off on June 17, 2025, with Sri Lanka facing Bangladesh. Every team plays six series, each win worth 2 points, a draw 1 point. The points percentage (PCT) decides the leaderboard, not raw points. After two draws and a win, India perched at 46.67% before the Ahmedabad clash.
A Dominant Display: Day One to Day Three
The West Indies, led by captain Roston Chase, won the toss and elected to bat. Indian pacers, spearheaded by Mohammed Siraj, ripped through the Caribbean line‑up, bowing them out for a modest 162. That set the stage for a massive reply.
Opener KL Rahul reached the three‑figure mark with exactly 100 runs, while wicket‑keeper Dhruv Jurel smashed 125. The third century came from Ravindra Jadeja, who remained unbeaten on 104. The trio’s partnership pushed India to 448, a lead of 286 runs.
West Indies’ second innings was a mirror of the first: they managed only 146 before the final wicket fell. Siraj added three more scalps to Jadeja’s four‑wicket haul, sealing an innings victory by a staggering margin.
Jadeja’s All‑Round Masterclass
It was Jadeja’s 50th Test on home soil, but his first without long‑time spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired in December 2024. The all‑rounder confessed, “I was playing a Test in India without Ash for the first time, so sometimes I did find myself thinking, yeah, Ash will come on and bowl, and then realising he isn’t there.” The sentiment was palpable, yet Jadeja turned the perceived loss into a personal triumph.
His unbeaten century came off 158 balls, a mix of classic drives and innovative sweeps. When the West Indies resumed batting, Jadeja switched gears, delivering 13 overs of sharp spin that yielded four wickets for 54 runs. The dual performance earned him the Player of the Match award and gave India a psychological edge heading into the final Test in Delhi.
Implications on the World Test Championship Table
With the win, India’s PCT leapt from 46.67% to 55.56%, catapulting them to third place in the nine‑team league. Australia still sits atop with a perfect 100.00% after three straight victories. Sri Lanka holds second spot at 66.67%, having split their two Tests 1‑1.
England lags in fourth with 43.33%, while Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and the West Indies occupy the lower rungs. The West Indies remain winless, their PCT stuck at 0.00% after four losses.
Only the top two at the end of the two‑year cycle secure a spot in the final at Lord’s in June 2027. India’s surge keeps the dream alive, but they’ll need to win the home decider and hope for a slip‑up from Sri Lanka or England.
Looking Ahead: Series Decider in Delhi
The next match kicks off on October 10, 2025, at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. India currently leads the bilateral series 1‑0, holding 12 points to the West Indies’ nil. Coach Rahul Dravid has hinted at rotating bowlers to keep the attack fresh, while the batting line‑up rests on the confidence built in Ahmedabad.
Should Jadeja continue his form, and the Indian pacers keep the Caribbean batsmen in check, a clean sweep looks plausible. For the West Indies, a win would be a lifeline; otherwise, the series ends in a whitewash and deepens their WTC woes.
Key Facts
- Match venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Date: October 4, 2025 (match concluded in three days)
- India total: 448 runs (Rahul 100, Jurel 125, Jadeja 104*)
- West Indies totals: 162 & 146 – both innings dismissed
- Player of the Match: Ravindra Jadeja (104* and 4/54)
- WTC PCT after match: India 55.56% (3rd place)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this win affect India's chances of reaching the WTC final?
The victory lifts India's points percentage to 55.56%, moving them into third place. To make the final, India must win the remaining series in Delhi and hope that Sri Lanka or England drop points. A clean sweep keeps the prospect realistic, but the race remains tight.
Who were the standout performers for India in the match?
Ravindra Jadeja stole the limelight with a century and four wickets, while KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel also reached triple figures. Mohammed Siraj contributed three wickets in the second innings, and the seam attack as a whole kept the West Indies under pressure.
What does the result mean for the West Indies in the WTC?
The loss leaves the West Indies at the bottom of the table with a 0.00% points percentage after four matches. They now face an uphill battle to accumulate any points before the cycle ends, making their chance of finishing in the top two virtually nil.
Why was Jadeja’s performance considered special this time?
It was Jadeja’s 50th Test at home, and the first without the veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Overcoming that psychological hurdle, he delivered a flawless all‑round display, proving his adaptability and cementing his status as a senior leader in the side.
When and where is the series decider taking place?
The final Test of the bilateral series starts on October 10, 2025, at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. India leads the series 1‑0 and holds 12 points, while the West Indies have yet to score any.
