India has a 1-0 lead in the series. In the chase of 115 runs, India started off decently. Ishan Kishan was promoted up the order to open with Shubman Gill
Our Bureau
Bridgetown (Barbados)
A four-wicket haul by Kuldeep Yadav and a half-century by Ishan Kishan were the highlights as India defeated West Indies by five wickets in the first ODI of three-match series at Barbados on Thursday.
India has a 1-0 lead in the series. In the chase of 115 runs, India started off decently. Ishan Kishan was promoted up the order to open with Shubman Gill.
Gill’s disappointing run in recent international matches continued as he poked a delivery by Jayden Seales on the fifth-stump line and was dismissed for seven off 16 balls. India was 18/1 at that point.
Suryakumar Yadav was also promoted to bat at number three.
Ishan and Suryakumar started to build a partnership, with the former playing some good shots, looking to make the most of his opportunity.
India reached the 50-run mark in 9.5 overs.
However, Suryakumar’s aggressive innings could not continue for long as while attempting to sweep, he was trapped leg before wicket by Gudkesh Motie for 19 off 25 balls, consisting of three fours and a six. India was 54/2 at that point.
Hardik Pandya was run out for just five. India was 70/3.
Ishan reached his half-century in just 44 balls with a double.
Motie got his second wicket of the match, dismissing Kishan for 52 off 46, consisting of seven fours and a six. Rovman Powell took a brilliant catch at deep mid-wicket. India was 94/4.
Shardul Thakur was also dismissed for just one run by Yannic Cariah. India was 97/5.
India reached the 100-run mark in 18.3 overs.
Skipper Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja took India to win, finishing at 118/5 in 22.5 overs, with Rohit (12*) and Jadeja (16*) unbeaten.
Motie (2/26) was the pick of the bowlers for the Windies. Cariah and Seales also got a wicket.
Earlier, fantastic performances by spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja helped India restrict West Indies to just 114 runs in 23 overs during the first ODI of three-match series at Barbados on Thursday.
Put to bat first by India, WI lost a quick wicket in their second over after Hardik Pandya removed Kyle Mayers for just two when he lobbed the ball towards skipper Rohit Sharma at mid-on. India was 7/1 in 2.4 overs.
Following this, Brandon King and Alick Athanaze started to rebuild the WI innings. The duo played some aggressive strokes.
The 38-run partnership between King and Alick was over when Mukesh Kumar dismissed Athanaze for 22 off 18 balls. Ravindra Jadeja took a brilliant catch at backward point. WI was 45/2 in 7.5 overs.
In the very next over, Shardul Thakur castled King for 17 off 23. WI was 45/3 in 8.3 overs.
WI brought up their 50 runs in 9.4 overs.
Jadeja’s next over saw him take two quick wickets of Rovman Powell (4) and Romario Shepherd (0), sinking WI to 96/6 in 17.4 overs.
Following this, it was Kuldeep Yadav’s turn to unleash a rampage.
Brief Scores: WI: 114 in 23 overs (Shai Hope 43, Alick Athanaze 22, Kuldeep Yadav 4/6) lost to India: 118/5 in 22.5 overs (Ishan Kishan 52, Ravindra Jadeja 16*, Gudakesh Motie 2/26).
Kuldeep & Jadeja register unique record
The left-arm spin pair Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have featured themselves in a unique record of becoming the first spinning duo to pick seven wickets in an ODI match for India.
Kuldeep took four-wicket conceding just six runs while Jadeja picked up three scalps for 37 runs in the first ODI match against West Indies in three-match series in Bridgetown on Thursday. A four-wicket haul by Kuldeep and a half-century by Ishan Kishan were the highlights as India defeated West Indies by five wickets in the match.
In the chase of 115 runs, India started off decently. Ishan Kishan was promoted up the order to open with Shubman Gill.
Gill’s disappointing run in recent international matches continued as he poked a delivery by Jayden Seales on the fifth-stump line and was dismissed for seven off 16 balls. India was 18/1 at that point.
Kuldeep destroyed the rest of Windies’ line-up by dismissing the lower order and finally Hope for 43 off 45 balls.
Kuldeep has worked on his bowling: Vihari
Speaking about Yadav’s performance in the opening ODI at Bridgetown on Thursday, India cricketer Hanuma Vihari, said: “He has worked a lot on his bowling. When he began playing international cricket, initially, he was a lot slower through the air. He didn’t have that zip. He has worked on his bowling with the bowling coach and it has helped him a lot. You can see the result with his action in white ball cricket. As Abhinav (Mukund) mentioned, in IPL we have seen him succeeding in the last couple of years because he has got that pace in his bowling which comes down to his bowling run-up in which he has done a good job.”
Vihari felt Yadav’s form augurs well for India in the run-up to the World Cup. “Kuldeep Yadav being in form is a big advantage for Team India going into the World Cup. As Abhinav mentioned, for foreign batters, especially the left-hand batters, it will be a huge task facing him.”
So, how can batsmen overcome the challenges that Yadav poses? Another India cricketer Abhinav Mukund explained: “It is the googly that you need to read first. And, then you need to ensure you get your pads out of the way. You need to be very decisive in your footwork and you need to play him down the ground. Once you start picking him, things get much easier. I think West Indies have been quite poor against spin.”
We didn’t bat well: Shai Hope
West Indies skipper Shai Hope did not make excuses after being trashed by India in the first ODI by 5 wickets and 163 balls remaining in Barbados on Thursday.
In the post-match presentation, Hope said that the pitch was difficult to bat on, however, he would not give any excuses as their batters did not bat well in front of Indian bowlers. “Not too many words come to mind. We didn’t play the way we needed to; we need to find ways to score on difficult pitches like this. I’m not making excuses but anyone watching cricket can see what is happening here. (On Jayden Seales) He is a quality player, somebody we can invest in and I hope he grows from strength to strength. The Indian bowlers did well on this surface, but we didn’t bat well,” he added.
Rohit on batting down order in 1st ODI
Indian Captain Rohit Sharma remembered his early days in the Indian team when he used to bat at number seven after he batted at the same position in the first ODI match against West Indies in Bridgetown on Thursday.
Rohit gave a chance to youngsters in the match as he chooses to bat down the order. A four-wicket haul by Kuldeep Yadav and a half-century by Ishan Kishan were the highlights as India defeated West Indies by five wickets in the first ODI of three-match series at Barbados.
“We wanted to give game time to the ODI guys who have come in, we will keep trying those things whenever possible. To restrict them to 115, we knew we could try these guys and give them a go. I don’t think they’ll get many chances like this. I made my debut for India and was batting at number 7, reminded me of those days,” Rohit said in the post-match presentation.
“I never thought the pitch would play like that, it was the team’s need to bowl first and have a score. The pitch had everything for the seamers and spinners, our guys did well to restrict them to that score. Mukesh was brilliant, he can swing the ball at good pace. Good to see what he can offer, haven’t seen him much in domestic cricket. No matter the conditions, we need to bowl in the right areas to restrict them and I thought our bowlers did brilliantly. And then Ishan was good with the bat as well,” Rohit added.
In the chase of 115 runs, India started off decently. Ishan Kishan was promoted up the order to open with Shubman Gill.
Gill’s disappointing run in recent international matches continued as he poked a delivery by Jayden Seales on the fifth-stump line and was dismissed for seven off 16 balls. India was 18/1 at that point.
