India beat West Indies 1-0 to take the series on Tuesday after the second and final Test was washed out at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.
The match was drawn after rain forced the abandonment of the final day’s play without a ball being bowled.
India had crushed West Indies by an innings and 141 runs in the first Test in Dominica ten days ago.
West Indies were set to resume at 76 for two in their second innings having been set a victory target of 365. However steady early morning rain eliminated the prospect of a prompt start and with the inclement weather forecasted to linger for much of the day, the window for an outright result became impossible because of consistent drizzle.
West Indies’ chances of getting the remaining 289 runs for a famous series-levelling victory was always unlikely and the remote prospect of overhauling the target was effectively eliminated when rains came back for the third time yesterday.
Mohamed Siraj was adjudged the Player of the Match for taking 5 for 60 in West Indies’ first innings, while Ashwin was named the Player of the Series for taking 15 wickets at an average of 15 and scoring a half-century.
Earlier on Sunday evening, India remained on course to complete a 2-0 series sweep after setting West Indies a 365-run target.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul (24) and Jermaine Blackwood (20) were the not out batsmen at the end of the fourth day.
Earlier, leading an inexperienced Indian pace attack, Siraj claimed 5-60 to help bowl out West Indies for 255 after the hosts resumed their first innings on 229-5 at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain. West Indies lost their last five wickets for only 26 runs with Siraj wreaking havoc with the ball. Possessing a handy lead of 183, Indian batters came out all guns blazing in their second innings scoring as if playing a T20 match.
Skipper Rohit Sharma (57) raced to a 35-ball fifty as he and Yashasvi Jaiswal (38) took India to the 100-mark in 12.2 overs.
Promoted to number four, Ishan Kishan struck an unbeaten 52 off 34 balls, his maiden Test fifty in his second Test, as India racked up 181-2 in 24 overs before declaring their innings.
Off-spinner Ashwin further cemented India’s position on a rain-marred with two late blows. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite made 28 before top edging Ashwin at short fine leg, while Kirk McKenzie was trapped lbw for a duck.
For India, Siraj particularly stood out for the way he led the attack in the absence of a recovering Jasprit Bumrah and a rested Mohamed Shami.
“I relish responsibilities,” the 29-year-old told reporters.
“To step in on the field with a responsibility on my shoulders gives me extra motivation and it is challenging as well and I like challenges. It was hot and humid and because of the rain, we were going on and off the field. It’s difficult for a fast bowler to keep yourself charged-up.”