Team India once again ruled the roost against West Indies as they registered a hapless-looking West Indies side. In the 1st ODI between the two sides in Barbados, India coasted to a comfortable 5-wicket victory against the hosts.
Led by skipper Rohit Sharma, India started on the right note in this series. They folded the hosts for a paltry score of 114 runs in the 1st ODI. West Indies’ shambolic performances in the ODI format continued as they lost their last 7 wickets for only 26 runs.
It felt as if it was a 20-over game as none of the two sides played more than 23 overs in their innings.
Kuldeep Yadav set the tone for India in the 1st innings
Left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav was in ominous form as he sent the West Indies batters packing with his brilliant bowling.
The 28-year-old bowler took 4 wickets and conceded only 6 runs in his 3 overs, out of which 2 overs were maidens.
On a turning track, left-arm orthodox bowler Ravindra Jadeja too joined the party and took 3 wickets for India. Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur and debutant Mukesh Kumar took 1 wicket each.
The tour of West Indies is turning out to be quite memorable for Mukesh Kumar as he has made his Test and ODI debut in a span of a week.
Kumar had taken 2 wickets in the 2nd Test between the two sides and also took 1 wicket in this game.
India had lost 5 wickets in the middle but Ishan Kishan held fort
It seemed like the Indian cricket team were deciding their batting order by playing rock-paper-scissor. There were plenty of changes in the batting order as the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli pushed themselves down the order.
This was essentially to ensure game-time for the other batters like Ishan Kishan, Surya Kumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Ishan Kishan grabbed onto his opportunity with both hands as he reposed the faith that was put on him by the team management. The southpaw scored a solid knock of 52 runs in 46 deliveries.
His innings was laced with 7 fours and 1 six. Kishan had a strike-rate of 113.04 during his innings.
India next will be locking horns with West Indies on 29th July 2023. The match is slated to begin from 7:00 PM (IST).
Squads
West Indies
Shai Hope(w/c), Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Shimron Hetmyer, Alick Athanaze, Rovman Powell, Keacy Carty, Romario Shepherd, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Oshane Thomas, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair, Dominic Drakes, Yannic Cariah
India
Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat, Mukesh Kumar, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad
Also read: 3 Reasons Why Ravichandran Ashwin Can Finish As The Highest Wicket Taker Of India
