Memories of this win are still fresh after 50 years!
Updated On: 12 April, 2026 09:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Sunil Gavaskar
It’s exactly 50 years to the day when India beat the then world record score in a fourth innings win by chasing 404 vs WI in Port of Spain. It was from here that we started believing anything was possible and nearly pulled off 400-plus targets a couple times

Gundappa Viswanath, who scored 112 not out during India’s win over WI in the third Test at Port of Spain in 1976. Pic/mid-day archives
Today happens to be exactly 50 years to the day when India beat the then world record score in a fourth innings win by chasing down 404 against the West Indies at the picturesque Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Firstly, a little background. This was the third Test of the series with the West Indies being one-up in Barbados with the second Test in Port of Spain being drawn. The Indian caravan had moved to Guyana for the third Test. We were welcomed by torrential rain, so the game against Guyana was washed out. The rains didn’t stop and with the Bourda Oval flooded, the prospect of the Test match happening looking remote by the minute. Frantic parlays took place between the West Indies Cricket Board and the Indian team management about moving the Test match to Barbados or Port of Spain, where India had played barely a week earlier. Having lost in three days in Barbados, we weren’t too keen on going there again and with the large number of Indian origin supporters in Trinidad and having had a good, albeit drawn Test match there, we were only too happy to get back there.
How do you like the new new mid-day.com experience? Share your feedback and help us improve.

