India Cruise Past West Indies by 5 Wickets in Gwalior | World Cup 1996
The group-stage encounter between India and West Indies in the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup was played at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior, on 21 February 1996. The match proved to be a comfortable victory for the hosts as India chased down a modest target with ease, strengthening their position in the tournament.
West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first on a slow pitch that offered some assistance to the bowlers. However, their innings never gained real momentum. Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath struck early, dismissing Sherwin Campbell cheaply. The West Indian batting lineup struggled against disciplined bowling and tight fielding from India.
Captain Richie Richardson tried to anchor the innings with a patient knock of 47 runs, while Shivam Amarnath Chandrpaul (Shivamrine Chanderpaul) played a steady innings of 28. However, wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Star batsman Brian Lara had a disappointing outing, scoring just 2 runs before being dismissed by Srinath.
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India’s bowling attack was well-balanced, with Javagal Srinath leading the charge, supported effectively by Anjum Bhavi and Manoj Prabhakar. The spinners also played their part by controlling the run flow in the middle overs. As a result, West Indies were restricted to 173 runs in their allotted 50 overs, a below-par total by World Cup standards.
Chasing a target of 174, India started confidently. Openers provided a solid base before the middle order took control of the chase. Sachin Tendulkar played a composed innings, rotating the strike well and punishing loose deliveries. He was well supported by Mohammad Azharuddin and Vinod Kambli, who ensured there were no major hiccups.
Despite losing a few wickets along the way, India never looked under pressure. The required run rate remained manageable, and the batsmen played sensibly without taking unnecessary risks. Ajay Jadeja added finishing touches with a brisk cameo, guiding India closer to the target.
India eventually reached 174 for 5 in 39.4 overs, winning the match by 5 wickets with 62 balls to spare. The convincing victory delighted the home crowd and underlined India’s strong all-round performance in the group stage of the 1996 World Cup.
This match is remembered for India’s disciplined bowling display and a calm, controlled chase. It also highlighted West Indies’ batting struggles during the tournament, while India continued to build momentum on home soil.
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Scorecard
West Indies Innings (50 overs)
Richie Richardson (c) – 47
Shivamrine Chanderpaul – 28
Brian Lara – 2
Sherwin Campbell – 5
Extras – 21
Total: 173 all out
India Innings (Target: 174)
Sachin Tendulkar – 70
Mohammad Azharuddin – 39
Vinod Kambli – 23
Ajay Jadeja – 16*
Extras – 18
Total: 174/5 (39.4 overs)
Bowling (India)
Javagal Srinath – 3 wickets
Anjum Bhavi – 2 wickets
Manoj Prabhakar – 1 wicket
Result: India won by 5 wickets (with 62 balls remaining)
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