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In the opening game of the three-match ODI series between West Indies and India, the visitors showcased their dominance with a resounding victory. The Indian bowlers, led by the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, decimated the West Indies batting lineup, restricting them to a meagre 114 runs in 23 overs at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Chasing the modest target, India encountered a slight hiccup owing to a strategic decision by the team management to shuffle the batting order and provide opportunities to the younger players. Rohit Sharma, the regular opener and Indian skipper, surprisingly came out to bat at number seven, while former captain Virat Kohli didn’t get a chance to bat in the game.
The opening pair comprised the explosive Ishan Kishan, who delivered an impressive performance with a quickfire 52 runs off 46 balls, and Shubman Gill, who contributed seven runs before being dismissed. Suryakumar Yadav followed at number three and scored 19 runs, while Hardik Pandya, batting at number four, was unfortunate to be run out for just five runs.
The changes in the batting order led to a situation where, after Shardul Thakur‘s dismissal for 1, the team had limited options left to send in as batsmen. This compelled Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja to form a crucial partnership, adding 21 runs for the sixth wicket and securing the victory for India with five wickets in hand.
In the post-match presentation, Rohit shed light on the team’s strategy, explaining that they wanted to provide game time to the newcomers in the ODI squad. The team management believed that by restricting the West Indies to a low total, they could experiment with the batting order and give the younger players valuable exposure.
“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,” said Rohit at the post-match presentation.
“We hit the right lengths”: Kuldeep on his partnership with Jadeja
Kuldeep emerged as the standout performer with the ball, delivering an extraordinary spell that saw him claim four wickets for a mere six runs in just three overs. His dismissals included the crucial wicket of West Indies skipper Shai Hope, who top-scored for his side with 43 runs off 45 deliveries. Jadeja complemented Kuldeep’s brilliance with his top-class bowling, taking three wickets.
Kuldeep’s exceptional performance rightfully earned him the Player of the Match award. Speaking about their partnership, Kuldeep expressed satisfaction with the way he and Jadeja bowled, hitting the right lengths to trouble the opposition batsmen and contribute significantly to India’s success.
“Me and Jaddu were brilliant, we hit the right lengths which is what was necessary on this wicket. I’m just focusing on my rhythm, hitting the right lengths and it has been very nice. I thought it will be a seaming paradise, we are happy we got 7 wickets from our side. It’s always good to have competition, we just try to work together,” said Kuldeep.
