At some level, the result was expected. It’s India, spinning tracks that teams from outside the region have traditionally struggled in. Not to forget that India are the top-ranked Test team in the world, while the West Indies, far from being the force they once were, are down at No.8 in the ICC rankings.

With all due respect to West Indies Cricket but I have a question for u all…will this west Indies team qualify for Ranji quarters from the plate group? Elite se to nahin hoga 🧐 #INDvsWI

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 5, 2018

So, when the Test match went India’s way, Harbhajan Singh decided to question the visitors’ Test status, writing: “With all due respect to West Indies Cricket but I have a question for u all…will this west Indies team qualify for Ranji quarters from the plate group? Elite se to nahin hoga”. [The last sentence translates to ‘it won’t happen from the elite group.]

The comment was heavily criticised by a number of Twitter users, who called Singh ‘disrespectful’.

The tweet also came to Tino Best’s attention, and the fiery former Barbadian paceman responded with: “Hey bro didn’t see these cocky tweets vs England …. but anyhow the young men will learn”.

Hey bro didn’t see these cocky tweets vs England 🤷🏾‍♂️ …. but anyhow the young men will learn 🙏🏾

— Tino95 (@tinobest) October 6, 2018

India lost 4-1 to England on tour recently – India’s batting, with the exception of Virat Kohli, was poor for the most part in the series, and though the Indian pacers were excellent, the batsmen let the team down on more than one occasion.

Singh’s original tweet was sent out on October 5 and, perhaps in response to the criticism, he tweeted again on October 6: “Sad to see this situation of West Indies cricket.. there was a time when people fear playing against them.. hope they do get some good players and compete at international level.”