Highlights:
- In the first ODI, India defeated West Indies by five wickets.
- At Kensington Oval, Ishan Kishan scored 52 runs.
- Four wickets were taken by Kuldeep Yadav.
On Thursday, July 27 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, India defeated West Indies by five wickets in the opening match of the three-match ODI series. India therefore secured a crucial early 1-0 series lead, placing the Caribbean squad in a must-win scenario for the final two games.
Ishan Kishan’s 52 runs off 46 balls, which included seven fours and a six, helped India reach 115 runs in 18 overs as they chased down the target. To give the new players an opportunity to showcase their skills, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli repeatedly demoted themselves. After Shardul Thakur left the game, Rohit ultimately took the bat.
After Jayden Seales dismissed him, Shubman Gill’s poor West Indies tour performance continued. During his brief appearance, Suryakumar Yadav showed commitment, scoring 19 runs (including three fours and a six) before being dismissed by Gudakesh Motie.
Motie managed to take two wickets, yet he had limited runs to defend. In the end, Rohit sealed the match by striking a four against Motie.
? Milestone Alert ?#TeamIndia pair of @imkuldeep18 (4⃣/6⃣) & @imjadeja (3⃣/3⃣7⃣ ) becomes the first-ever pair of Indian left-arm spinners to scalp 7⃣ wickets or more in an ODI ? #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/F18VBegnbJ
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 27, 2023
India had earlier dismissed the West Indies for 114 in 23 overs. With a stunning knock, Shai Hope once again displayed his mettle. He displayed a mix of ferocity and careful shot selection, while also controlling boundaries and steaming the runs.
Hope’s reliable 70 runs helped the West Indies’ innings along with giving them some steadiness despite the falling wickets. His precise timing and precise drives gave the home team the much-needed momentum. He formed crucial alliances with the middle order in an effort to post a respectable total.
Hope played a determined innings, but the Indian bowling attack, which was led by Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, proved to be difficult to overcome. The pair defeated the West Indies batting order, baffling them with their spin and precision.
The dependable all-around player Jadeja was at the peak of his game. He kept the batsmen on the back foot with his tight bowling and mesmerising delivery. Kuldeep, another top spinner for Team India, collaborated with Jadeja to destroy the West Indies batting lineup.
Jadeja and Yadav were highly successful in the bowling department, with Jadeja claiming three wickets and Yadav securing four. Their disciplined and unyielding performances created immense pressure on the opposition, resulting in crucial breakthroughs at crucial moments during the match.
By maintaining tight and consistent bowling, they effectively curtailed the West Indies batters from unleashing their usual free-flowing cricket. The wickets taken by Jadeja and Yadav played a pivotal role in applying pressure on the West Indies team, ultimately setting the stage for an exciting and closely contested game.
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