New Delhi: The West Indies' steady deterioration over the years was recently confirmed by their failure to earn a spot in the ODI World Cup. The tournament will be played without the reigning two-time champions for the first time ever.
The West Indies were defeated by India at home in a Test series for the tenth time in a row not long after their failed World Cup qualification campaign.
Among those who faced the West Indies when they were at their best was former India captain Kapil Dev. The Caribbean team had won the first two World Cups and was an overwhelming favorite to win the third World Cup in 1983.
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But they ultimately fell to Kapil's Indian squad, who entered the competition as a complete outsider. In his 16-year international career, Kapil has somehow only managed to be on the winning side of a Test series against the West Indies once.
“It is painful to see the West Indies not playing in the World Cup. It is tough to imagine an ODI tournament without them. They have produced such great players. I don't know what is hurting them now but, hopefully, they will make a comeback,” said Kapil Dev.
A defeat to Scotland in the Super Six stage of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe sealed the West Indies' fate.
Later, there were some encouraging signs since the West Indies, by putting down the anchor with the bat in the second Test, kept a potent Indian team from taking away all of their World Test Championship points from them.
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The third and a good portion of the fourth days of the Test were spent by the West Indies batting, and as the fifth day was rained out, the game concluded in a tie.
The outcome in the first Test, which they lost by an innings and 141 runs after being destroyed for 150 and 130 runs in the two innings, was an improvement.
India will always remain the favorites, according to Kapil, even though he is unable to predict how the 2023 event will play out."I don't know how it will pan out. They are yet to announce the team for the World Cup. India will always enter a tournament as favourites as it has been the case for a long time," said Kapil.
The 2023 World Cup will begin on October 5 and end on November 19 with the championship match. On October 8, India will play its opening match against the five-time champions Australia. For the first time, the tournament is being exclusively hosted by India. The nation has previously shared hosting duties with Bangladesh, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. “It's all about how the team comes to terms with the expectations from all sides. We have won a World Cup at home, and I am sure the team, whoever gets selected, can do it again. A World Cup is coming in four years, and I hope the players will be fully prepared,” said Kapil.
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