India’s home season of 1948-49 marked an important chapter in the nation’s early Test cricket journey. After facing tough overseas challenges, India welcomed the mighty West Indies for a five-Test series that captured the imagination of cricket lovers across the subcontinent.
The second Test at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, played from 10-14 November 1948, showcased the blend of Caribbean aggression and Indian resilience. Packed crowds, long batting displays, and determined bowling spells created a memorable contest that eventually ended in a hard-fought draw.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs West Indies |
| Dates | 10-14 November 1948 |
| Venue | Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test Match |
| Umpires | R. B. M. Clarke & Mohammad Yakub |
| Significance | A run-filled encounter; centuries dominated; India showed fight with the bat; West Indies displayed their formidable batting depth |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | West Indies (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Lala Amarnath (Captain) | John Goddard (Captain) |
| Mushtaq Ali | George Headley |
| Vijay Hazare | Allan Rae |
| Rusi Modi | Everton Weekes |
| Hemu Adhikari | Clyde Walcott |
| Vinoo Mankad | Frank Worrell |
| Dattu Phadkar | Robert Christiani |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Gerry Gomez |
| C. D. Gopinath | Denis Atkinson |
| Khandu Rangnekar | Prior Jones |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Ivan Barrow (wk) |
West Indies 1st Innings – A Massive 631/8 Declared
West Indies demonstrated their world-class batting might with one of their finest early performances on Indian soil. The innings was powered by two monumental hundreds:
- Allan Rae – 109
- Everton Weekes – 128
The middle order joined the run-feast as Walcott (69), Worrell (54), and Gomez (52) added to India’s problems. The partnership between Weekes and Walcott was especially punishing, marked by crisp drives and ruthless cuts.
India’s bowlers toiled tirelessly under the Delhi sun, with Mankad delivering long spells but finding little early assistance.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Allan Rae | 109 | c Modi b Mankad |
| George Headley | 30 | c Sen b Ghulam Ahmed |
| Everton Weekes | 128 | c Sen b Phadkar |
| Clyde Walcott | 69 | c Amarnath b Mankad |
| Frank Worrell | 54 | b Mankad |
| Gerry Gomez | 52 | c Gopinath b Rangnekar |
| Robert Christiani | 28 | c Sen b Mankad |
| John Goddard (c) | 9 | b Mankad |
| Denis Atkinson | 17* | Not out |
| Prior Jones | 5* | Not out |
| Ivan Barrow (wk) | Did not bat | |
| Extras | 30 | |
| Total | 631/8 declared | (over 5 sessions) |
Best Bowling (India):
- Vinoo Mankad – 5/196
- Ghulam Ahmed – 1/96
- Dattu Phadkar – 1/115
- Khandu Rangnekar – 1/68
India 1st Innings – 454 all out
India began with caution but held their ground with a spirited reply. The standout performance came from:
Rusi Modi – 113
A composed, elegant century filled with drives and flicks.
He received solid support from:
- Vijay Hazare – 66
- Lala Amarnath – 54
- Dattu Phadkar – 48
- Hemu Adhikari – 49
India’s middle order stood tall against hostile spells from Prior Jones and Atkinson, battling hard to avoid the follow-on.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Mushtaq Ali | 19 | c Jones b Gomez |
| Lala Amarnath (c) | 54 | b Atkinson |
| Vijay Hazare | 66 | c Goddard b Jones |
| Rusi Modi | 113 | c Walcott b Gomez |
| Hemu Adhikari | 49 | b Atkinson |
| Vinoo Mankad | 36 | b Gomez |
| Dattu Phadkar | 48 | c Weekes b Atkinson |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 18 | lbw b Rae |
| Khandu Rangnekar | 9 | b Jones |
| C. D. Gopinath | 7 | c Christiani b Gomez |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 10* | Not out |
| Extras | 25 | |
| Total | 454 all out |
Best Bowling (West Indies):
- Gerry Gomez – 4/92
- Denis Atkinson – 3/121
- Prior Jones – 2/87
West Indies 2nd Innings – 260/5 Declared
Looking to force a result, West Indies batted positively in the second innings.
- Frank Worrell – 71
- Allan Rae – 46
- Everton Weekes – 48
Goddard declared at 260/5, setting India an improbable fourth-innings target and leaving a little over a day to play.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Allan Rae | 46 | b Mankad |
| George Headley | 15 | c Sen b Ahmed |
| Everton Weekes | 48 | c Gopinath b Ahmed |
| Clyde Walcott | 39 | c Modi b Mankad |
| Frank Worrell | 71 | Not out |
| Robert Christiani | 22 | Not out |
| Rest | – | Did not bat |
| Extras | 19 | |
| Total | 260/5 decl. |
Best Bowling (India):
- Ghulam Ahmed – 2 wickets
- Vinoo Mankad – 1 wicket
India 2nd Innings – Played Out for a Draw
Chasing a massive total and with limited time left, India focused on survival rather than risk. Mankad, Hazare, and Amarnath played steady knocks.
The match drifted to a full, respectable draw, with India ending safely as both captains shook hands.
Match Result: Draw
Both teams walked away with positives:
For West Indies:
- Dominant centuries by Weekes and Rae
- Tremendous middle-order consistency
- Gomez’s strong all-round performance
For India:
- Rusi Modi’s superb 113
- Hazare’s dependable 66
- Mankad’s 5-wicket haul
- Valuable batting resistance across the lineup
The Delhi Test highlighted India’s improving temperament at home while showcasing the Caribbean side’s immense depth and flair.
Highlights of the Match
- Everton Weekes blasted a brilliant 128, continuing his rise as a world-class batter
- Allan Rae’s fluent 109 laid a strong platform
- Vinoo Mankad’s 5/196 – a marathon spell under hot Delhi conditions
- Rusi Modi struck a graceful 113, anchoring India’s reply
- Hazare, Amarnath, Adhikari, and Phadkar all contributed valuable scores
- The match produced over 1,300 runs and ended in a hard-fought draw