Cricket is a sport woven deeply into the cultural fabric of both India and the Caribbean. While the men’s rivalry between India and the West Indies has captured global attention for generations, the women’s teams have carved their own compelling story — one of rising intensity, thrilling encounters, and mutual respect. The timeline between the India women’s national cricket team and the West Indies women’s cricket team spans nearly five decades, showcasing the changing dynamics of women’s international cricket.
📜 1976 — The Inaugural Clash: Birth of an Enduring Rivalry
The first recorded matches between India and the West Indies women took place in October–November 1976, during the West Indies women’s tour of India. This series was historically significant for both teams. It marked some of the earliest competitive fixtures for women’s cricket on both sides.
The series featured six Test matches, held in different venues across India. Although women’s cricket had a relatively modest profile during this period, this tour laid essential groundwork for the future.
- Tests Played: 6
- Series Result: 1–1 Draw
- Key Performer: Shantha Rangaswamy (India) scored heavily in the series, while Patricia Whittaker led the West Indies batting charts.
Among the highlights was India’s first-ever Test victory, achieved on 19 November 1976, when India defeated West Indies by 5 wickets in Patna — a landmark moment for the Indian women’s team.
This early series showed that women’s cricket was no longer just a novelty; it had begun to evolve into a serious international sport, driven by passion and competitive spirit.
🏆 1980s–1990s — A Quiet Yet Formative Era
While the early series helped build a foundation, interactions in the 1980s–90s were sporadic. During this period, women’s cricket worldwide faced challenges such as limited fixtures, lack of sponsorship, and minimal media recognition. India and West Indies rarely played bilateral series during these decades, but whenever they did meet, both sides demonstrated grit and resilience.
Their head-to-head statistics across formats continued to reflect competitive balance, with crucial matches occurring in international tournaments such as Women’s Cricket World Cups and regional competitions such as the Women’s Asia Cup and other multi-nation events.
🌍 2000s – Growth of Limited-Overs Rivalry
By the early 2000s, the focus of women’s cricket globally had shifted towards One Day Internationals (ODIs) and later T20 Internationals, with the shorter formats gaining more traction among fans and boards.
📊 Head-to-Head Overview (Before 2024)
- ODIs: India historically held a strong upper hand, winning a majority of encounters.
- T20Is: The teams were more evenly matched but with India ahead overall.
- Overall: India led West Indies in wins, reflective of their broader strength in limited-overs cricket.
In T20Is, for instance, India had beaten West Indies in a significant number of matches and held impressive partnerships — including a 143-run stand by Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, India’s highest for any wicket against West Indies in T20Is.
📅 December 2024 — A Landmark Tour in India
One of the most significant recent chapters in this rivalry unfolded in December 2024, when the West Indies women’s team toured India for a multi-format series comprising:
- 3 One Day Internationals (ODIs)
- 3 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is)
This tour was part of the ICC Women’s Championship and offered a complete picture of both teams’ strengths heading into the next cycle of global cricket scheduling.
Let’s break the key matches down in chronological order.
🏏 15 December 2024 — 1st T20I, Navi Mumbai
The series began with a T20I at Navi Mumbai. Batting first, India posted a competitive 195/4, thanks to aggressive batting from the top order.
In response, West Indies put up 146/7, giving India a convincing 49-run victory to take the early lead in the T20I series.
Match Summary:
- India Women: 195/4
- West Indies Women: 146/7
- Result: India won by 49 runs.
This match set the tone for India’s dominance in the shorter format.
🍃 17 December 2024 — 2nd T20I, Navi Mumbai
The second T20I proved a thrilling turnaround. West Indies staged a remarkable chase, led by a commanding unbeaten innings from Hayley Matthews (85).
West Indies achieved the target with relative ease, finishing the chase in under 16 overs and winning by 9 wickets — their first T20I win over India in years.
Match Summary:
- India Women: 159/9
- West Indies Women: 160/1
- Result: West Indies won by 9 wickets.
The match showcased Matthews’ class and underlined the unpredictability that both teams bring to every contest.
🏆 19 December 2024 — 3rd T20I, Navi Mumbai
The T20I decider took place just two days later. India posted another strong total of 217/4, with contributions across the order.
West Indies fought but could only reach 157/9, handing India a 60-run victory and clinching the T20I series 2–1.
Match Summary:
- India Women: 217/4
- West Indies Women: 157/9
- Result: India won by 60 runs.
- T20I Series Result: India won 2–1.
This series win was significant — ending a five-year wait for India to win a home T20I series against West Indies.
📆 December 2024 — ODI Series Domination
Following the T20I battles, the teams faced off in the ODI leg, which formed part of the ICC Women’s Championship — a critical pathway to global events like the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
🥇 22 December 2024 — 1st ODI, Vadodara
India began the ODI series in spectacular fashion. Electing to bat first, the Indian women posted 314/9, powered by Smriti Mandhana’s 91 and strong contributions from the middle order.
In reply, West Indies were bundled out for just 103, as India secured an emphatic 211-run victory — one of the largest winning margins in women’s ODIs.
Match Summary:
- India Women: 314/9
- West Indies Women: 103 all out
- Result: India won by 211 runs.
Renuka Singh Thakur starred with a five-wicket haul, dismantling the West Indies batting lineup early in the innings.
24 December 2024 — 2nd ODI, Vadodara
In the second ODI, India continued their dominance. Harleen Deol played a stunning innings of 115 — her maiden ODI century — helping India to a massive 358/5.
Despite a valiant effort from West Indies’ captain Hayley Matthews (106), India prevailed by 115 runs, sealing the series in emphatic fashion.
Match Summary:
- India Women: 358/5
- West Indies Women: 243 all out
- Result: India won by 115 runs.
27 December 2024 — 3rd ODI, Vadodara
The final ODI brought a slightly closer contest. West Indies posted 162 before India chased the target down in under 30 overs, winning by 5 wickets and completing the 3–0 ODI series sweep.
Match Summary:
- West Indies Women: 162
- India Women: 167/5
- Result: India won by 5 wickets.
- ODI Series Result: India won 3–0.
This comprehensive sweep showcased India’s strength across disciplines — batting depth, tactical bowling, and fielding efficiency — while West Indies displayed resilience and fighting spirit in patches.
📈 Rivalry in Perspective — Statistics and Trends
When viewed across formats, the India vs West Indies women’s rivalry tells an intriguing story.
🧮 Overall Head-to-Head
- In ODIs, India has historically outperformed West Indies with more wins and stronger aggregate performances.
- In T20Is, although India holds the edge, West Indies have shown the ability to compete and win emphatic matches, particularly with match-winners like Hayley Matthews.
🏏 Memorable Records
- India’s 211-run ODI victory in 2024 remains one of the largest margins in women’s international cricket for either side.
- Strong individual contributions — Mandhana’s 91, Deol’s century, Matthews’ big knocks — illustrate the high-impact performances that define this rivalry.
🌍 Beyond the 2024 Tour — Why This Rivalry Matters
This timeline is more than a series of match scores; it represents the rise of women’s cricket globally and the growing importance of international rivalries outside traditional power blocks.
For India, the rivalry underscores a journey from early test pioneers in the 1970s to dominant limited-overs performers in the 2020s. For the West Indies, it is a story of grit, powerful players like Hayley Matthews, and a growing emphasis on competitive global cricket.
Every match — whether a crushing ODI win or a thrilling T20 chase — adds layers to this narrative.
🏁 Conclusion — A Rivalry That Inspires
The India Women vs West Indies Women timeline is not just about runs, wickets, or series results. It reflects the evolution of women’s sport in an era where athletes demand equality, recognition, and excellence.
From 1976’s historic Test series to the thrilling encounters of 2024, this rivalry has grown into one of international women’s cricket’s most compelling stories — one that inspires young cricketers in India, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Whether remembered for record victories or spirited chases, the clashes between these teams stand as a testament to the passion that defines women’s cricket today.