India’s 1948–49 home season continued with the much-anticipated 3rd Test of the West Indies tour, held at the elegant Brabourne Stadium, Bombay. The West Indies, already known for their powerful batting lineup, entered this Test with confidence, while India looked to build on their spirited performance in Delhi.
The Test turned into a long, absorbing contest – filled with compact batting, consistent bowling spells, and enduring partnerships. Despite phases of pressure and momentum shifts, neither side could force a result, and the match eventually ended in a draw.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs West Indies |
| Dates | 9-14 December 1948 |
| Venue | Brabourne Stadium, Bombay |
| Toss | West Indies won the toss and elected to bat |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Match Format | 5-day Test Match |
| Umpires | A. N. Ghosh & J. C. Guha |
| Significance | Long batting displays, disciplined spells from both sides, another draw in a competitive early India–West Indies rivalry |
Team Lineups
| India (Playing XI) | West Indies (Playing XI) |
|---|---|
| Lala Amarnath (Captain) | John Goddard (Captain) |
| Mushtaq Ali | Allan Rae |
| Vijay Merchant | George Headley |
| Vijay Hazare | Everton Weekes |
| Rusi Modi | Clyde Walcott |
| Hemu Adhikari | Frank Worrell |
| Vinoo Mankad | Robert Christiani |
| Dattu Phadkar | Gerry Gomez |
| Ghulam Ahmed | Denis Atkinson |
| C. D. Gopinath | Prior Jones |
| Probir Sen (wk) | Ivan Barrow (wk) |
West Indies 1st Innings – 462 all out
Batting first on a good surface, West Indies delivered another demonstration of their batting depth. Allan Rae played a steady and well-constructed innings, while Frank Worrell and Everton Weekes continued their consistent run.
Key Scores:
- Allan Rae – 93
- Frank Worrell – 79
- Everton Weekes – 56
- Gerry Gomez – 55
- Clyde Walcott – 41
India bowled with control, with Vinoo Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed picking important wickets and keeping the West Indies from posting an even larger total.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Allan Rae | 93 | c Sen b Mankad |
| George Headley | 22 | c Modi b Ahmed |
| Everton Weekes | 56 | c Amarnath b Phadkar |
| Clyde Walcott | 41 | c Modi b Ahmed |
| Frank Worrell | 79 | c Gopinath b Rangnekar |
| Robert Christiani | 38 | lbw b Mankad |
| Gerry Gomez | 55 | c Sen b Phadkar |
| John Goddard (c) | 15 | b Mankad |
| Denis Atkinson | 8 | b Ahmed |
| Prior Jones | 10* | Not out |
| Ivan Barrow (wk) | 0 | c Merchant b Mankad |
| Extras | 45 | |
| Total | 462 all out | (147.5 overs) |
Best Bowling (India):
- Vinoo Mankad – 4/111
- Ghulam Ahmed – 3/93
- Dattu Phadkar – 2/78
India 1st Innings – 462 all out
India produced a brilliant, patient, and determined reply, scoring the exact same total as the West Indies – a rare occurrence in Test cricket of that era.
The Indian batting effort was led by:
- Vijay Merchant – 116 (masterclass of timing and placement)
- Vijay Hazare – 82 (solid as ever)
- Lala Amarnath – 73 (positive and purposeful)
- Rusi Modi – 54 (consistent throughout the series)
The middle order worked together to keep India level with the West Indies.
| Player | Runs | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|
| Mushtaq Ali | 29 | c Walcott b Atkinson |
| Vijay Merchant | 116 | c Barrow b Gomez |
| Vijay Hazare | 82 | c Christiani b Jones |
| Lala Amarnath (c) | 73 | c Worrell b Atkinson |
| Rusi Modi | 54 | b Gomez |
| Hemu Adhikari | 41 | c Rae b Atkinson |
| Vinoo Mankad | 33 | b Jones |
| Dattu Phadkar | 21 | b Gomez |
| Ghulam Ahmed | 9 | lbw b Gomez |
| C. D. Gopinath | 5 | c Headley b Atkinson |
| Probir Sen (wk) | 4* | Not out |
| Extras | 45 | |
| Total | 462 all out | (158.2 overs) |
Best Bowling (West Indies):
- Gerry Gomez – 4/82
- Denis Atkinson – 4/98
- Prior Jones – 2/97
West Indies 2nd Innings – 215/6 declared
Looking to set up a possible result, West Indies played positively.
- George Headley – 59 (classy, effortless strokeplay)
- Everton Weekes – 42
- John Goddard – 35
- Gerry Gomez – 33*
With time running out and the pitch flattening, Goddard declared at 215/6, hoping to tempt India into a chase.
Best Bowling (India):
- Vinoo Mankad – 2 wickets
- Ghulam Ahmed – 2 wickets
India 2nd Innings – 98/2 (Match Drawn)
India began their chase steadily, but with the light fading and insufficient overs left, both captains agreed to call off play.
- Vijay Merchant – 27
- Mushtaq Ali – 24
- Hazare & Modi remained not out
The match ended in a balanced and well-earned draw, with both sides showcasing their strengths.
Match Result: Draw
Highlights of the Match
- Vijay Merchant’s elegant 116, one of his finest Test innings
- Allan Rae’s near-century (93) led the West Indies innings
- Worrell, Weekes, and Gomez are ensuring WI’s batting strength
- India and WI both scored exactly 462 – a historic Test cricket coincidence
- The match showcases two evenly matched, rising cricketing nations