Returning to the group of island nations after their 2022 white-ball campaign, the Indian team this time, have a full-fledged tour which comprises a couple of Tests, three one-dayers and 5 T20 Internationals.
Having already arrived in the Caribbean, Rohit Sharma and co. are busy with the preparations as the first Test starts from July 12.
During the course of the tour, that will stretch just over a month, the caravan of both the teams will travel across six venues as the fans gear up for mouth-watering, high-octane clashes across formats.
TimesofIndia.com here takes a look at the venues that will be hosting the matches during India’s tour of the Caribbean and USA:
Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica (1st Test – July 12-16)
Windsor Park, a multi-purpose stadium, established in 2007 will be hosting the first Test between India and West Indies, starting July 12. Unlike the other stadiums in the cricket-loving Caribbean, that hold rich history and heritage, the Windsor Park can be considered a relatively new stadium. It has however made a name for itself and is a popular venue for sports of all kinds and carnival activities.
With a capacity of 12,000, Windsor Park has played host to 5 Test matches so far, the last being played between the West Indies and Pakistan in 2017. Private boxes, a media centre, practice nets, a players’ personality complex, digital scoreboards and 5 cricket pitches make the stadium one of the most appealing in the Caribbean.
(Getty Images)
Out of the 5 Tests that have been played at the venue so far, the West Indies have won only one Test against Zimbabwe while it lost a couple of games to Australia here and one to Pakistan. When India played West Indies here in 2011, the contest ended in a draw.
With the average first and second innings scores hovering around the 275-run mark and the third and fourth innings average scores around the 200-run range, the venue has traditionally favoured bowlers. Australian Adam Voges (130 not out) has the highest score here at Windsor Park while Devendra Bishoo — 6 for 80 — has the best bowling figures.
To go with 5 Tests, this venue has also hosted 7 ODIs and 6 T20I matches.
Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad (2nd Test – July 20 -24)
One of cricket’s power-centres in the Caribbean, Queen’s Park Oval is a quintessential cricket ground known for its breathtaking backdrops and is the home of Queen’s Park Cricket Club. The picturesque stadium also known as St Clair Oval and was established in 1896. It has a capacity of 25,000.
Surrounded by mountains, especially the northern hills, the ground hosted its first ever Test in 1930 and last hosted a Test vs Sri Lanka in 2018. In the 61 Test matches that West Indies have played here, they have won 20 and lost 18 while 23 of them have ended in a draw.
(AP photo)
The ground has previously hosted India 13 times in the longest format, where they won three, lost three and drew 7 between 1953 and 2016. The highest total at Queen’s Park Oval has been 681/8(decl) while Englnd were skittled out for 46 against the hosts in 1994.
Interestingly, India legend Sunil Gavaskar (220) holds the record for the highest individual score at this venue while Windies great Curtly Ambrose (66) has the record for most wickets here in the longest format.
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados (1st ODI – July 27 & 2nd ODI – July 29)
The pride of Barbados, Kensington Oval is the oldest cricket ground in the Caribbean and will be hosting two back-to-back one-dayers during India’s tour of the West Indies.
Also known as the Pickwick Cricket Club, the Kensington Oval was established in 1871 and was demolished and rebuilt at the end of the 2004-05 season ahead of the 2007 World Cup. With a capacity of 28,000, the venue is steeped in history and cricket began here way back in 1882.
(Getty Images)
Apart from the staggering 55 Tests played at this venue, the Kensington Oval has also hosted 49 ODI matches that also includes the 2007 World Cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka.
Fully equipped to host day-night matches, the teams batting second have historically had a slight edge, winning 25 matches compared to 22 won by teams batting first. The highest team total here is 364/4 which England scored against the hosts in 2019 while Ireland were skittled out for 91 in the 2007 World Cup for the lowest total at the venue.
This time around, India will be playing the first and second ODIs and this will be their first appearance at the Kensington Oval after over 20 years. The Indian team has played three ODIs here previously, winning 1 and losing 2 between 1989 and 2002.
Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad (3rd ODI – Aug 1 & 1st T201 – Aug 3)
The third and final encounter of the ODI leg and the first match of the T20I series will be played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
The stadium, part of the elite sports complex at Tarouba was initially built with the intention that it would host preliminary matches of the 2007 ODI World Cup but a series of delays meant that the stadium hosted its first ever international match only in 2017.
(Getty Images)
Situated just outside the heart of the city of San Fernando, the 15,000 capacity stadium will be hosting its first-ever men’s ODI. The venue has previously hosted three women’s ODI matches. The last time India were in the Caribbean in 2022, they did play one T20I here, and they will do so again this time.
Providence Stadium, Guyana (2nd T20I – Aug 6 & 3rd T20I – Aug 8)
The Providence Stadium also known as the Guyana National Stadium was built for the 2007 ODI World Cup and since then has played host to many memorable international fixtures which includes the famous Sri Lanka vs South Africa game where Lasith Malinga became the first bowler ever to take four wickets off four balls.
The stadium was built with a lot of the funding via loans and grants from India and has a capacity of 15,000. In the upcoming India tour of West Indies, the venue will host two T20I matches on August 6 and 8 respectively.
(Getty Images)
As far as T20Is are concerned, the stadium has previously hosted a total of 27 matches where the team batting first has won 13 and lost 10. The venue has seen some high scoring contests but the average first innings score here is 122.
India have previously played a solitary T20I here in 2019 which they won. West Indies, on the other hand have 3 wins and a couple of losses at this venue in the shortest format.
Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida (4th T20I – Aug 12 & 5th T20I – Aug 13)
Team Indian will play two of the 5 T20Is vs the West Indies in the USA. The Central Broward Stadium was established in 2007 and has hosted multiple white-ball international fixtures.
The first stadium in the US to receive certification from the ICC to host international matches, it has a capacity of 20,000 and is also used for Rugby, Soccer and Australian Rules Football.
Team India will be wrapping up their tour here with the last two T20Is that will be played on successive days. The Indian team has been a regular visitor of sorts here and attracts huge number of expatriates living in the United States. Between 2016 and 2022, India played 6 T20Is at Central Broward and won 4 and lost one.
As far as T20I statistics are concerned, the Central Broward has been a high-scoring venue with the average first innings score being 164. Back in 2016, the venue hosted an absolute thriller when the West Indies scored 245/6 and India replied with 244/4, losing the contest by a solitary run.
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