India’s 1948–49 home Test series against the touring West Indies brought some of the finest cricket ever witnessed on Indian soil. After two run-heavy draws in Delhi and Bombay, the action shifted to the iconic Eden Gardens, Calcutta, where a massive crowd gathered to witness the third Test of the series.
Played between 31 December 1948 and 4 January 1949, the contest stayed true to the pattern of the series: mammoth batting displays, long partnerships, and tireless bowling all culminating in another hard-fought draw.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs West Indies |
| Dates | 31 December 1948 – 4 January 1949 |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Calcutta |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Format | 5-day Test Match |
| Umpires | D. N. Dutt & Mohammad Yakub |
| Series Context | The West Indies led 1-0 after winning the first Test. India was fighting to level the series. |
| Significance | The West Indies led 1-0 after winning the first Test. India was fighting to level the series. |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | West Indies (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Lala Amarnath (Captain) | John Goddard (Captain) |
| Mushtaq Ali | Allan Rae |
| Vijay Hazare | George Headley |
| Rusi Modi | Everton Weekes |
| Hemu Adhikari | Clyde Walcott |
| Vinoo Mankad | Frank Worrell |
| Dattu Phadkar | Robert Christiani |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Gerry Gomez |
| Khandu Rangnekar | Denis Atkinson |
| C. D. Gopinath | Prior Jones |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Clifford McWatt (wk) |
West Indies 1st Innings – 366 All Out
Winning the toss on a batting-friendly Eden Gardens pitch, the West Indies aimed to put India under pressure. The top order ensured a strong start, built around the consistency of their famed middle order.
Key Performances
- Frank Worrell – 97 (missed a century by 3 runs)
- Clyde Walcott – 68
- Everton Weekes – 43
- Allan Rae – 39
Worrell played the standout knock, a smooth, elegant innings filled with wristy flicks and back-foot punches. Walcott supported with his trademark power hitting.
India’s bowlers worked tirelessly on a wicket offering little help.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Allan Rae | 39 | b Mankad |
| George Headley | 22 | lbw b Ahmed |
| Everton Weekes | 43 | c Sen b Phadkar |
| Clyde Walcott | 68 | c Modi b Mankad |
| Frank Worrell | 97 | b Mankad |
| Christiani | 28 | c Gopinath b Ahmed |
| Gomez | 15 | b Phadkar |
| Atkinson | 10 | c Hazare b Mankad |
| Jones | 5 | run out |
| Goddard | 8 | not out |
| McWatt | 3 | b Mankad |
Total: 366 all out
Best Bowling (India):
- Vinoo Mankad – 6/111
- Ghulam Ahmed – 2/88
- Dattu Phadkar – 2/74
Mankad’s disciplined, probing spell kept India alive.
India 1st Innings – 425 All Out
India responded confidently, posting a strong total and securing a crucial lead.
Top Performers
- Vijay Hazare – 96
- Rusi Modi – 82
- Lala Amarnath – 47
- Vinoo Mankad – 42
- Hemu Adhikari – 38
Hazare was unlucky to miss a century, but his innings displayed immense control and patience. Modi once again proved his reliability with a stylish 82.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Mushtaq Ali | 24 | c Gomez b Atkinson |
| Lala Amarnath | 47 | b Jones |
| Vijay Hazare | 96 | c Worrell b Gomez |
| Rusi Modi | 82 | c Walcott b Atkinson |
| Hemu Adhikari | 38 | lbw b Rae |
| Vinoo Mankad | 42 | b Gomez |
| Phadkar | 26 | c McWatt b Jones |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 14 | b Atkinson |
| Rangnekar | 5 | b Jones |
| Gopinath | 8 | run out |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 10* | Not out |
Total: 425 all out
Best Bowling (West Indies):
- Denis Atkinson – 3/106
- Gerry Gomez – 3/97
- Prior Jones – 2/80
India earned a 59-run lead.
West Indies 2nd Innings – 262/7 Declared
With time running out, the West Indies tried to push the pace and force a result.
Top Scorers
- Everton Weekes – 71
- Allan Rae – 52
- Frank Worrell – 48
Weekes was in his usual fluent rhythm, dominating the Indian spinners. Rae again provided solidity at the top.
Captain Goddard declared at 262/7, setting India a difficult fourth-innings chase with limited time left.
Best Bowling (India):
- Mankad – 3 wickets
- Ahmed – 2 wickets
India 2nd Innings – Match Drawn
India chose safety over risk, aiming to secure the draw.
Hazare, Amarnath, and Adhikari played cautiously, ensuring no last-minute collapse.
As the final session ticked away, both captains agreed to call the match off.
Match Result: Drawn
Match Highlights
- Frank Worrell’s 97 was one of the finest innings of the tour.
- Mankad’s superb 6-for kept India competitive.
- Hazare’s classy 96 led India’s strong reply.
- Weekes dominated again with a brisk 71 in the second innings.
- Over 1,050 runs were scored across five days.
- Eden Gardens witnessed huge crowds throughout the Test.