1st ODI, Bridgetown, July 27, 2023, 07:00 PM
West Indies
114/10(23.0ov)
India
118/5(22.5ov)
India beat West Indies by 5 wickets
Right then, that's all from the first ODI. A convincing victory has helped India gain a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. It was almost a perfect game for Rohit Sharma and Co. and they would want to replicate this performance in the second ODI as well. On the other hand, it was a forgettable game for West Indies. The hosts will look to put this game behind them as they aim to bring the series back on level terms. The second ODI will take place at the same venue on Saturday, the 29th of July. The first ball will be bowled at 7.00 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). As always, you can join us early for the build -up. Until then, take care and goodbye!
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, says that he never thought that the pitch would play like that. Mentions that it was the team's requirement to bowl first and adds that it had everything in it for both pacers and spinners. Shares that they wanted to give chances and good game time to the ODI guys. States that they will look to keep trying those things. Reckons that it was a great effort to restrict West Indies to 115. Also says that he last batted at number 7 in ODI when he made his debut. On Mukesh Kumar, he says that he has been brilliant and even in Tests, he was swinging the ball and has pace. Ends by saying that Ishan Kishan was good with the bat while chasing.
Shai Hope, the West Indies skipper is in for a chat. He starts by saying that his side didn't play the game in the way they needed to. Adds that one needs to find ways to score runs on a challenging pitch. Informs that Seales is a quality player and worth investing in. He is surely going from strength-to-strength. States that he is unhappy with the way the boys performed with the bat and will certainly hope to rectify it sooner rather than later.
Kuldeep Yadav is the Player of the Match for his exceptional spell of 4 for 6 from his three overs. Starts by saying that it was a perfect bowling effort. Adds that fast bowlers started well. Mentions that He and Jadeja hit good areas which was important on this wicket. Shares that he is following routine and focusing on rhythm. Feels that focusing on length is more important. Adds that the pitch surprised him. States that it is good to have competition. Shares that he and Chahal do not have any competition and says that Chahal gives him confidence and advice.
Stay tuned for the presentation...
Earlier in the match, after electing to bowl first, the Indian bowlers single-handedly took the game away from West Indies. It was the seamers who started doing the damage from the get-go. Mukesh Kumar began his ODI debut with a maiden over and then went on to pick up his maiden wicket as well. Then it was just the magic of our spinners, Ravindra Jadeja started to spin his web, and then Kuldeep Yadav came into the picture which helped India to end things early. Kuldeep Yadav's spell of the day reads 3-2-6-4. For West Indies, it was a sorry outing with the blade and would certainly need to step up their game before these two sides meet again.
There was not much to play for, but the West Indies bowlers can to the part once the pitch started to do the talking. The spinners kept things tight in the middle overs and spun their web. Although it was just too little too late, maybe if 4 wickets could've come inside the first Powerplay, then they certainly were in the game. Gudakesh Motie impressed for the hosts with the ball in hand with his two-wicket haul.
Ishan Kishan certainly made the most of the opportunity given to him and kept scoring runs at will. Unfortunately for him though he could not stick around for long after making his half-century, but he certainly set the tone for this chase. Once the second-wicket stand was broken, there was a period when India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Nevertheless, the run rate was never affected by any of it. In the end, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja applied the finishing touches.
An emphatic win for India and they have taken a 1-0 lead in this series. Rohit Sharma, the skipper got the winning runs but surprisingly he only had 12 runs to his name. Well, don't be taken aback, it is not like he opened the innings and could only rack three boundaries. Rohit Sharma said during the toss that they wanted to try a few things and we saw him come out at number 7, as he handed his position to Ishan Kishan who opened alongside Shubman Gill.
In over# 23
4
0
0
0
0
Gudakesh Motie 26/2(6.5)
22.5
4
FOUR! There it is, Rohit Sharma finishes the game with a boundary! Motie comes from 'round the wicket and bowls this flatter, on middle, Rohit Sharma picks the length early and gets down on one knee. Executes the sweep to perfection and gets it through the vacant square leg region for a boundary. India win by 5 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the series!
22.4
.
Gives the ball air, full and turning away, on off, Rohit Sharma plants his foot forward to defend and gets beaten on the outside edge.
22.3
.
Pushed through, on off, the ball keeps low but Rohit Sharma does well to get his bat down in time.
22.2
.
Drops it short again, outside off, Rohit Sharma half-pulls and finds mid-wicket.
22.1
.
Shorter and around off, Rohit Sharma rocks back and cuts it straight to extra cover.
In over# 22
0
0
4
0
0
0
Yannic Cariah 35/1(5)
21.6
.
Shortens his length and bowls it on off and middle, Ravindra Jadeja gets behind the line and keeps it out down the wicket.
21.5
.
Flatter and quicker, around off, Ravindra Jadeja keeps it out off the front foot.
21.4
4
FOUR! SCORES LEVEL! Short one, wide outside off. Ravindra Jadeja stays on his back foot and slaps it through the cover region for four runs.