The series can be deemed a landmark in Indian cricket in many ways. This was India's first ever test victory and test series victory over the West Indies. It was also their first victory in West Indies. The series marked the international debut for the batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar and he scored heavily in this series, including four test centuries and a double century. He would go on to serve India for almost 17 more years.
Leonard Williams and E Barrett (Leeward Islands) made their first-class debuts.
The Indians got off to a good start batting first, with Sunil Gavaskar and Ashok Mankad putting together 47 runs for the first wicket. Left-arm spinner Elquemedo Willettbowled out Mankad before lunch, with Ed Arthurton bowling a hostile spell of seam bowling after, to dismiss the Indians' middle-order that included wickets of M. L. Jaisimha and Salim Durani. Gavaskar, playing his first game of the tour, made 82 being dismissed caught and bowled by Willett. His side collapsed to 194/6 before Ajit Wadekar and Syed Abid Ali stitched a 112-run partnership taking their side to 306/6 at end of play on day one. Wadekar, who was dropped twice before he go to 10 went on to make a century.[2]
