Washington Sundar returned to international cricket in style, Yuzvendra Chahal proved his worth with his wristspin and Rohit Sharma marked his first hit as full-time ODI with a quickfire fifty to ensure a perfect outing during India’s 1000th ODI on Sunday.
Once Washington and Chahal broke the backbone of West Indies middle order on a helpful Narendra Modi Stadium strip, despite Jason Holder playing a trademark innings in the latter half, West Indies could manage only 176 before being bowled out in the 44th over.
Rohit’s initial onslaught on the Windies pacers meant that the proceedings came to an early end. Despite losing quick wickets in succession twice, with the pressure of scoreboard non-existent, Suryakumar Yadav and debutant Deepak Hooda’s unbroken 62-run partnership leading India to a 62-run win in the series-opener.
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Rohit seemed to have gauged the conditions to perfection when he put West Indies in to bat. Mohammed Siraj’s fuller-ball ploy in the channel worked as Shai Hope - after driving him for successive boundaries - attempted a third drive, only to play it on to his stumps.
Despite Prasidh Krishna being accurate and sharp at the other end, Rohit replaced him with Washington in the eighth over. The offie struck in his third over, with opener Brandon King misreading turn off one that stopped on him to offer Suryakumar Yadav catching practice at short midwicket.
Four balls hence, Washington cut short Darren Bravo’s birthday celebrations, by first beating the batter’s inside-edge and then persuading Rohit to opt for a referral when the appeal didn’t go in his favour.
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At 45 for three, the onus was on Shamrah Brooks and Nicholas Pooran to rebuild the innings. With Rohit opting to persist with Washington for six impressive overs and rotating the pacers at the other end, Yuzvendra Chahal had to wait longer to showcase his skills.
The leggie made it worth it by snaring the wickets of the Windies dangerous duo off successive balls in his first over. Pooran missed a sweep off Chahal’s third ball and the referral went in India’s favour to hand over Chahal his 100th ODI wicket.
The next ball, Chahal put an icing on the cake by knocking into Pollard’s off-stump with a perfect googly that the Windies captain just didn’t read. With Chahal and Prasidh striking in their next over, Windies was reeling at 79 for seven even before the halfway stage.
Holder then showcased his artistry of batting with the tail, tonking four sixes in an attempt to stretch the innings deep. Despite his sensible batting, the early damage was too much to help West Indies to a challenging total.
Once Rohit flicked Kemar Roach off his legs in the first over of the chase, the signs were ominous. Rohit built on it, driving and pulling the pacers off panache to race to a fifty. With the captain at his destructive best, Ishan Kishan played second fiddle.
But Alzarri Joseph’s introduction into the attack paved way for a double delight for the pacer. He earned the prize scalps of Rohit (missed a straight ball that rapped on to his pads) and Virat (top-edged hook to long-leg) in the same over.
Despite Ishan and Rishant Pant also perishing quickly to give West Indies a glimmer hope at 116 for four, Suryakumar and Hooda batted sensibly to help India cross the line without any more hiccup.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES INNINGS : Shai Hope b Siraj 8 (10b, 2x4), Brandon King c Suryakumar b Washington 13 (26b, 2x4), Darren Bravo lbw b Washington 18 (34b, 3x4), Shamrah Brooks c Pant b Chahal 12 (26b), Nicholas Pooran 18 (25b, 3x4), Kieron Pollard b Chahal 0 (1b), Jason Holder c Pant b Prasidh 57 (71b, 4x6), Akeal Hosein c Pant b Prasidh 0 (3b), Fabian Allen c & b Washington 29 (43b, 2x4), Alzarri Joseph c Suryakumar b Chahal 13 (16b, 1x4, 1x6), Kemar Roach (not out) 0 (8b). Extras (lb-4, w-4) 8
Total (All out, 43.5 overs) 176
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-13 (Hope, 2.4 overs), 2-44 (King, 11.2), 3-45 (Bravo, 11.6), 4-71 (Pooran, 19.3), 5-71 (Pollard, 19.4), 6-78 (Brooks, 21.5), 7-79 (Hosein, 22.5), 8-157 (Allen, 37.6), 9-167 (Holder, 40.4).
INDIA BOWLING: Siraj 8-2-26-1, Prasidh 10-0-29-2, Washington 9-1-30-3, Shardul 7-0-38-0, Chahal 9.5-0-49-4.
INDIA INNINGS: Rohit Sharma lbw b Joseph 60 (51b, 10x4, 1x6), Ishan Kishan c Allen b Hosein 28 (36b, 2x4, 1x6), Virat Kohli c Roach b Joseph 8 (4b, 2x4), Pant (run out/ Joseph) 11 (9b, 2x4), Suryakumar Yadav (not out) 34 (36b, 5x4), Deepak Hooda (not out) 26 (32b, 2x4). Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-8) 11
Total (for four wkts., 28 overs) 178
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-84 (Rohit, 13.1 overs), 2-93 (Virat, 13.5), 3-115 (Ishan, 16.4), 4-116 (Pant, 17.3).
WEST INDIES BOWLING: Kemar Roach 5-0-41-0, Holder 5-0-29-0, Joseph 7-0-45-2, Hosein 9-0-46-1, Allen 2-0-14-0.
Toss: India, elected to field
Result: India won by 6 wkts. with 22 overs remaining
Man of the Match: Yuzvendra Chahal.