Indian cricketers defeated the Windies by six wickets in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium in the first one-day international against the West Indies, giving India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After India’s new spin combo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar created the foundation for an easy six-wicket victory against the West Indies in the first ODI, which also happens to be the country’s 1000th, skipper Rohit Sharma gave a feeling of calm with a scorching 60. Second, the hosts put West Indies to the sword, bowling them out for just 176 in 43.5 overs, as spinners Chahal (4/49 in 9.5 innings) and Washington (3/30 in 9 innings) went through their stuttering line-up.
While veteran players like Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, and Nicholas Pooran were present, West Indies have failed to bat the complete 50 overs in 10 of the last 16 games.
Despite a shaky middle order, Suryakumar Yadav (34) and debutant Deepak Hooda (26 not out) scored 62 runs to help the side win comfortably.
Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma were both absent from India’s tour of South Africa, but on Rohit’s return to the team, there were no symptoms of a hamstring issue as the pair slammed 10 fours and a six in their partnership of 84. (28).
There were two boundaries in the first over for Virat Kohli, but he was trapped in the deep and Rishabh Pant was unable to get out of the way at the other end.
Young Kishan, on the other hand, played second fiddle to Rohit perfectly.
As the West Indies were on the verge of an easy victory, the former tinkered with the West Indies attack.
An injury-hit Rohit smashed Kemar Roach for two fours and a maximum as India amassed 15 runs from the 10th over and reached an impressive total of 66-7.
India had already secured a milestone victory when Alzarri Joseph (2/45) hooked him leg-before.
After Chahal and Sundar ravaged the West Indies batsmen on a sluggish track, Jason Holder (57; 4×6) and Fabian Allen (29; 78) led the side past the 160-run mark in their eighth-wicket stand.
Opening batsman Shai Hope was bowled by Mohammed Siraj in the third over, as West Indies were bowled out for just 13 in their first innings.
Hope had struck Siraj for two consecutive boundaries before his inside edge smashed the middle and leg stumps while attempting a drive.
Brandon King (13; 2×4) and Darren Bravo (18; 3×4) attempted to resuscitate the innings but were unable to score more than 31 runs for the wicket of the second wicket.
In the sixth over, the visitors reached 28/1 after six overs thanks to Bravo’s two boundaries off bowler Prasidh Krishna (2/29). As West Indies stood poised at 39/1 after 10 overs, the pair played it safe while also being aggressive.
As a result of Sundar’s 12th over the dismissal of King and Bravo, the visitors were left reeling at 45/3.
To begin, Sundar sent back King, who was caught by Suryakumar Yadav at short mid-wicket. After that, he caught Bravo in front of the wicket with a straight and flat ball.
Seconds later in the 20th over, Indian leg-spinner Bhuvneshwar Kumar Chahal took two wickets in quick succession, trapping both hard-hitting batsmen Nicholas Pooran (18; 3×4) and Varun Aaron. His 100th one-day international wicket.
His googly struck Kieron Pollard (O) on the next delivery, knocking the rival captain’s off-stump. In a bind, the West Indies lost half their team for just 71 runs.
A rampaging Chahal then removed Shamarh Brooks (12), who edged out Rishabh Pant for a stumping at a critical moment for the Windies at 78/6.
Holder and Allen, on the other hand, attempted to extend the game. Prior to Sundar scooping up an errant return catch from Allen’s bowling, Holder blasted four sixes and hit two boundaries.
Alzarri Joseph was the final wicket to go as the side was bowled out in 43.5 overs, with Chahal taking his fourth wicket.
A rematch of this series will take place on the same field on the same day, nine days later, on February 9.
