The match turned on its head after West Indies appeared set to double its lead in the five-match series. A change of ball, however, in the 41st over proved to be the turning point in India’s escape to victory at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground.
The replacement after 40.1 overs triggered off a dramatic collapse.
As skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni pointed out after the 48-run victory, “this was the real turning point.”
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He further added, “It was a double-bounce wicket and we thought 265 was about 20 runs short of what we would have liked on the board.
“But the bowlers did well by denying their batsmen easy singles and forcing them to look for fours and sixes. That put pressure on them.
“The dew helped the pitch change its character under lights and helped the batsmen batting second. But our fast bowlers have done well in helpful conditions. Today they did well and created opportunities.
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“(Amit) Mishra’s spell was crucial before (Ravindra) Jadeja bowled those 2-3 good overs.”
On the change of batting order, Dhoni said, “we are still working on it with the World Cup round the corner. Today, it (the decision to send Ambati Rayudu at number three) was fruitful for both Virat (Kohli) and the team. It also disturbed the opposition’s plans.”
When asked to assess this West Indies team, Dhoni said it was a fantastic side. “They have all-rounders, big hitters besides having aggressive and natural players. It is a dangerous team with the right ingredients. I don’t see any reason why they cannot be successful on a consistent basis.”
A disappointed Dwayne Smith admitted that the team tried to hit out too early and lost the match from a winning position.
“This is something that you can learn from.”