The Men in Blue hammered Windies in the third ODI by 96 runs at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, February 11.
Rohit Sharma started his full-time captaincy stint in One-Day internationals with a clean sweep over West Indies. Their first-ever clean sweep over the men from the Caribbean in the history of the game. The third ODI on Friday resulted in India claiming a comprehensive victory at the Ahmedabad stadium.
Shreyas Iyer was the star for the hosts, scoring a well-compiled 80, while Rishabh Pant supported with 56 at a good rate. Bowlers were on song once again, with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna snaring three wickets each.
As it happened, India won the toss and elected to bat first. Shikhar Dhawan returned to open alongside Rohit Sharma after missing the first two games. But the hosts were rocked back early as Rohit (13) chopped on an Alzarri Joseph delivery on the third ball of the fourth over.
Just two balls later, Virat Kohli was strangled down the leg side for a duck. Dhawan (10), who looked scratchy throughout his 26-ball stay, was a victim of the extra bounce from Odean Smith in the 10th over.
With the scoreboard reading 42/3, Rishabh Pant joined Shreyas Iyer in the middle. India were in desperate need of a partnership, and the duo provided just that. Iyer held the one end while Pant batted with his natural flair as they put on a 100-run partnership in just over 19 overs.
In the process, Iyer completed his fifty off 74 balls. A few overs later, Pant also brought up his fifty off just 47 balls. The left-hand batter was dismissed on the last ball of the 30th over, trying to cut Hayden Walsh.
Iyer’s knock of 80 off 111 ended in the 38th over when he tried to take down Walsh, only to hole out at long off. Deepak Chahar smashed run-a-ball 38 while Washington Sundar added 33 off 34 to take India to a competitive total of 265.
In the second innings, the Indian bowlers were top of their game from the get-go. Siraj trapped Shai Hope (5) with an excellent nip backer in the fourth over while Deepak Chahar put on a new ball exhibition in the next over, dismissing Brandon King (14) and Shamarh Brooks (0) with outswingers. The visitors were reduced to 25/3 in six overs.
Darren Bravo and Nicholas Pooran added a 43-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but just when it looked like they are steadying the ship, Prasidh induced an edge from Bravo for 19. Krishna continued his superb form in the series and got another wicket with his hard lengths, this time Jason Holder edging to the slips.
Kuldeep Yadav, on his return to the Indian side, picked up a couple of scalps, dismissing Fabian Allen and Pooran (34). Odean Smith then smashed 36 off 18 with three sixes and as many fours. Hayden Walsh and Alzarri Joseph showed some resistance, but the match was already out of West Indies’ grasp.
Iyer won the player of the match prize for his excellent rebuilding act, while Krishna took home the player of the series award for his nine wickets in the series at an average of just 7.55. The new Indian side ticked a few boxes with respect to their squad while the West Indies are almost out of the direct qualification race for the 2023 World Cup with this clean sweep loss.
Brief scores
India – 265 in 50 overs (Iyer 80, Pant 56; Holder 4/34, Joseph 2/54)
West Indies – 169 in 37.1 overs (Smith 36, Pooran 34; Siraj 3/29, Krishna 3/27)
