On this day in 2011: India prevail in a low-scoring thriller in Antigua
India had visited the West Indies for a one-month all-format bilateral series in June-July 2011. This was also their first ODI series after the famous 2011 World Cup triumph at home a few months earlier. While India did register a 3-2 win in the One Day Internationals, they were given a run for their money in the opening game before Rohit Sharma bailed them out of trouble.
It was on this very day 11 years ago that Rohit’s brilliance and Harbhajan Singh’s resistance helped the Men in Blue come out on top against the Windies.
When Rohit Sharma held his nerves and stood tall for India
The Indian skipper Suresh Raina decided to field first upon winning the toss. West Indies were in all sorts of trouble after being reduced to 96/7 before Andre Russell unleashed the beast in him to slam a 64-ball 92 with eight fours and five sixes to take West Indies to a respectable total of 225/8.
For India, Munaf Patel and Amit Mishra were the pick of the bowlers, scalping three wickets each as none of the West Indies batters could get going apart from Russell and Lendl Simmons (45 off 68).
The total was not at all intimidating for the famed Indian batting line-up and they looked to get the job done in style. Nonetheless, the Windies bowlers were not ready to give up easily and they did put the visitors in a spot of bother as they reduced them to 92/6.
Parthiv Patel hung around to score 46 off 56 but after suffering a top-order collapse, Rohit, who came in the middle-order back then, showed great character and smartly kept the scoreboard ticking for India and got very good support from Harbhajan Singh.
Rohit, who was yet to achieve fame and fortune in ODIs back then, made sure that he took the initiative and showed a fearless intent after skipper Raina and the hard-hitting Yusuf Pathan also departed.
The veteran off-spinner played calmy alongside Rohit and from his side ensured that there were no hiccups from the position India were. He was dismissed by Russell as the 88-run stand for the seventh wicket was broken in the 41st over. That’s when Praveen Kumar came alongside Rohit and struck a counter-attacking 15-ball 25*, with two sixes and a four to take India home with three wickets and 22 balls to spare.
Despite ending on a losing side, Andre Russell was named the player of the match for his breathtaking knock and 1/59.
