Latest Match Report – West Indies vs India 1st ODI 2023

India 118 for five (Kishan 52, Motie 2-26) beat West Indies 114 (Hope 43, Kuldeep 4-6, Jadeja 3-37) by 5 wickets

It took India all of 45.5 overs to dismantle West Indies and declare the opening ODI by 5 wickets in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The win was arrange by the left-arm spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, who orchestrated a spectacular collapse of seven for 26 in 44 balls as West Indies imploded from 88 for 3 to 114 all out. Ishan Kishan – who opened the batting with Shubman Gill – then shepherded the chase and whereas India did lose 5 wickets alongside the best way, with a goal that small there was no actual panic. Rohit Sharma batted solely at No. 7, and Virat Kohli was not even wanted because the guests reached the goal with 163 balls to spare.

Despatched in to bat, Shai Hope mentioned he anticipated moisture on the floor to play a component, and whereas there was respectable motion and carry early on, it was a trial by spin that in the end did the batters in. Kuldeep picked up 4 for six in three overs and Jadeja 3 for 37 in six.

India handed Mukesh Kumar his ODI cap and he began his one-day profession the identical method he did in Assessments – with a maiden. However it was Hardik Pandya who drew first blood with a pointy back-of-a-length ball. He adopted Kyle Mayers, who was in search of a launch however may solely handle an ungainly swipe to Rohit Sharma at mid-on.Alick Athanaze, enjoying simply his second ODI, got here in and instantly regarded the half. He flicked Hardik over deep sq. leg, a shot oozing Caribbean aptitude, and adopted it up with a flourishing cowl drive the very subsequent ball. He then lay into Shardul Thakur, smashing him for 2 fours in his first over, however fell quickly after to a nothing ball. A brief and huge Mukesh supply was slapped straight to backward level, with the bowler celebrating his maiden ODI wicket.

The very subsequent over, it was Brandon King’s flip to depart, with Thakur rattling his center stump courtesy a cross-seam supply that moved sharply again in.

Shimron Hetmyer, enjoying his first ODI since July 2021, survived a DRS attraction for caught behind first ball however settled in pretty comfortably. He added a 43-run stand with captain Hope for the fourth wicket.

Hope acquired going by driving Mukesh on the up, earlier than utilizing the additional tempo of Umran Malik and accumulating back-to-back fours by way of pulls. Hetmyer was extra circumspect in his method as West Indies reached 87 for 3 after 15 overs, and it appeared like easy crusing was forward.

Sadly for the hosts, although, that was to not be. Jadeja’s first two overs went for 20, however he quickly discovered his lengths and that made him near-unplayable. It did not assist that Hetmyer acquired a bit too adventurous, attempting an unwarranted scoop. Jadeja landed a fullish size ball on center and Hetmyer went effectively throughout solely to be bowled.

Jadeja then had Rovman Powell caught at first slip for 4 earlier than a Virat Kohli particular at second slip despatched again Romario Shepherd two balls later. The batter went by way of with an expansive drive seeing the ball pitched up, however did not fairly attain the pitch of it. The skin edge flew low to the best of Kohli, who plucked a one-handed take.

Kuldeep struck with simply his third ball, a incorrect ‘un that spun previous Dominic Drakes’ inside-edge and caught him plumb in entrance. Yannic Cariah got here and went with Hope, all this whereas standing on the different finish, watching in despair. He smoked Jadeja for a mammoth six over long-off, however grew to become Kuldeep’s third sufferer when he missed a reverse-sweep solely to be pinned in entrance. Kuldeep claimed his four-wicket haul by eradicating Jayden Seales. This was West Indies’ second-lowest whole in opposition to India in ODIs and their joint-third-lowest at residence.

Kishan set the tempo fairly early within the chase, with a dismissive pull behind sq. within the opening over. Gill acquired a boundary of his personal within the subsequent over, albeit off a prime edge. He, nonetheless, could not final lengthy, falling to Seales, who acquired the out-swinger going properly to catch Gill’s edge. It was in all probability the earlier three balls that did Gill in as he was pushed again by some fast short-of-a-length stuff earlier than Seales acquired one to go a contact fuller.

Suryakumar, whose ODI kind has been a speaking level, didn’t do himself too many favours although he did gentle up the stage with one explicit six off Seales, one thing of stand-up-straight scoop over wonderful leg that he is making a signature shot of his. He crunched a sweep in opposition to Gudakesh Motie however tried the shot one too many occasions and was caught in entrance of the stumps. He did name for the DRS however to no avail.

Kishan continued to gather boundaries at common intervals. Hardik, got here in at No. 4 and was dropped on zero by King at first slip, however could not final lengthy. Kishan hammered a blow straight again at Cariah, who dropped the catch, however the ball ricocheted off his palms to the non-striker’s stumps, the place Hardik was discovered brief.

Kishan reached his fifty off 44 balls however fell attempting to clear midwicket, giving Motie his second wicket. Thakur then walked in however didn’t do a lot injury earlier than Rohit lastly walked in and, alongside Jadeja, ensured India acquired over the road within the twenty third over.

Ashish Pant is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo