West Indies in Test cricket once again came under the scanner after their dismal start to the ongoing series against India. On Day 1 of the first Test, the visitors collapsed for just 162 runs, highlighting the glaring gap in quality between the two sides.
Former India opener and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra didn’t hold back in his assessment, questioning whether the current West Indies side truly belongs at the highest level of the game. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra raised concerns about the competitiveness of Test cricket when one of its historically great teams struggles to even put up a fight.
“If you look at the top six batters of the West Indies, almost everyone averages in the 20s. Chanderpaul is the only one with an average above 30, and that too barely over 31. If a side’s batting averages are stuck in the 20s despite playing a good number of matches, then you have to ask—are they good enough for Test cricket?” Chopra remarked.
The former India cricketer went a step further, suggesting that such mismatches damage the reputation of the longest format. He revived the debate around a two-tier system in Test cricket, arguing that a tiered structure could help maintain the credibility of the World Test Championship (WTC).
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“The whole idea of the WTC was to bring excitement and meaning to Test matches by having teams compete for points. But where is the contest if one side has not won a Test against India for over 20 years? A tiered system could make matches more competitive,” he said.
The numbers back his argument. In all three completed WTC cycles, West Indies finished eighth out of nine teams, while India consistently reached the top, finishing as runner-up twice and narrowly missing the final in the third cycle. The gulf between top teams like India, Australia, and England, and struggling sides like West Indies, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe, is only widening.
With India dominating the early stages of this series yet again, Chopra’s comments have reignited the debate. Is it time for Test cricket to adopt a two-tier system to ensure fans get the contest they deserve?
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