Phew! What an exciting match in the end, as India clinched the first ODI comfortably by eight wickets at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram… thanks to masterclass centuries from Virat Kohli 139*, Shubman Gill 110 and a four-wicket haul from Player of the Match Kuldeep Yadav. India goes up 1-0 in the three match ODI series. Earlier, our very own Naman Dhir also made his ODI debut as Shubman Gill handed him his cap.  

West Indies begin strongly; Kuldeep gives India the first breakthrough

Windies batters John Campbell and Justin Greaves were right on the money during the first 20 overs of the contest. The Indian bowlers were made to slog it out in the middle until Kuldeep Yadav waved his magic wand. Looking to go for a sweep shot, deceived by the flight…Campbell was caught on 62 by Prasidh Krishna who made no mistake and took a good sliding catch. En route both batters stitched 135 runs opening stand, giving their side the perfect start.

Justin Greaves smashes maiden ODI century

Opening the batting, Justin stood like a rock for his side and what a way to get to his first ODI century. Sticking to his game plan, he knew which Indian bowler to attack. Yet again Gill bringing in Kuldeep Yadav at the right moment served the purpose. Greaves tried to go for the conventional sweep shot, but was judged LBW on 101(108).

Kuldeep Yadav stands tall, bags four wicket haul

Kuldeep spun a web around the West Indies and there was simply no escape. He turned the tide in India’s favour with a crafty 4/40 in his 10 overs spell, economy of just four… bamboozling the batters with his variations, flight and turn. He ripped through the Windies batting attack, bringing India back into the contest. The spinner snapped up three key wickets within a span of six deliveries as the opposition struggled for answers and slipped from 176/2 to 198/5 in 35.4 overs.

West Indies ended with 295/7 in their 50 overs as Amir Jangoo remained unbeaten on 58. Besides Kuldeep, Prasidh Krishna also picked 2/60.

Domination at its best from Shubman Gill-Virat Kohli, as both score centuries

Rohit Sharma along with Shubman Gill who led from the front gave India the perfect start. They stitched a 74 runs stand before Rohit (32) got out.

Further, skipper Gill along with Kohli ensured the Indian’s were always one step ahead of the chase. After getting a life early on, Shubman scored a brilliant ton, 110(108) laced with 13 fours and one six. Both batters notched up a massive 151 runs partnership, helping India reach closer to the finish line. Later, even Kohli reached his century in style, his 10th ton versus the Windies and 55th ODI hundred thus crossing the 15,000 runs mark in ODI’s (15,080 runs). He took India home comfortably, finishing it off with a SIX, as he ended with an unbeaten 139 in just 88 balls, 10 fours and nine sixes.

India chased down the total 300/2 in 41.1 overs, winning the contest by eight wickets.      

Brief Scores

West Indies: 295/7 in 50 overs (Justin Greaves 101, John Campbell 62, Amir Jangoo 58*; Kuldeep Yadav 4/40) lost to India: 300/2 in 41.1 overs (Virat Kohli 139*, Shubman Gill 110; Roston Chase 1/64) by eight wickets.