IND vs WI: 1st ODI Review – Spinners clinch victory in India’s 1000th ODI
India recorded a convincing six-wicket victory in their 1000th ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against West Indies. After asking the visitors to bat first, spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar spun a web around them, restricting Kieron Pollard and Co. to an unimposing 176.
That the Windies managed to cross 150 was also thanks to Jason Holder and Fabian Allen’s 78-run stand for the 8th wicket after the team was reduced to 79/7 at one stage. Chahal and Sundar combined picked seven wickets, capitalizing on the early breakthrough that India got courtesy of Mohammed Siraj, who sent back Shai Hope cheaply. Prasidh Krishna joined the party later, picking two wickets towards the end of the innings.
India’s chase was smooth for the majority part, set in motion by a brilliant opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, with the former playing the aggressor. Rohit smacked ten fours and a six in his 51-ball 60 before falling to Alzarri Joseph, who struck in the same over to see Virat Kohli’s back.
Despite a brief hiccup as India also lost Rishabh Pant to an unlucky run-out dismissal, Suryakumar Yadav (34) and Deepak Hooda (26) steadied the ship and ensured to stay there until the end, with India clinching the game with a whopping 22 overs and six wickets to spare.
Top performers of the match
Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal has deservingly adjudged the Player of the Match for his haul of four wickets. He broke West Indies’ back with a double-wicket over, pinning Nicholas Pooran leg before wicket only a ball before he cleaned up Kieron Pollard for a golden duck with a googly.
Jason Holder
While it was an innings that came in a losing cause, Holder was the man responsible to take his team to at least score of some substance after a threat of bundling for an even worse total was looming on West Indies. His 71-ball 57 had four sixes.
What next for the two teams?
Both the teams will play the second ODI of the series at the same venue – Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad – on February 9, followed by the final rubber two days later.
