West Indies vs India, 2023, 3rd ODI: Visitors decimate hosts by 200 runs to win the series 2-1

India bounced back from defeat in the second ODI to thrash the hosts in the third game and take the series 2-1.

India made a remarkable comeback after a disappointing performance in the 2nd ODI. They won the 3rd ODI convincingly and, as a result, secured the series with a scoreline of 2-1.

The West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl first. Hardik Pandya led the team once again, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being rested for this match. India made two changes to the lineup, bringing in Ruturaj Gaikwad and Jaydev Unadkat in place of Axar Patel and Umran Malik.

Remarkable Improvement in Batting Performance for India

The openers, Kishan and Gill, displayed a dazzling performance with exceptional scores of 77 and 85, respectively. Sanju Samson’s crucial role in crafting a well-deserved half-century and Hardik’s solid contribution of 70 runs further added to the team’s success. However, Ruturaj, despite earning his place in today’s match, had a disappointing outing, managing only 8 runs before getting dismissed.

Nevertheless, India showcased their batting prowess and strength in the match, posting an impressive total of 351/5 in the 1st innings, highlighting their ability to dominate with the bat.

The West Indies’ performance during the chase was lackluster. The situation deteriorated as both openers were dismissed cheaply within the first 3 overs. The skipper, Hope, then followed suit, edging a wide delivery to slip, which led to Mukesh Kumar securing his third wicket in just his 4th over. Making a strong comeback, Unadkat made an impact by dismissing Carty in his first over, leaving the West Indies team in a difficult position at 35/4 by the end of the 11th over

Thakur played a vital role in causing the downfall of the West Indies batting line-up by taking quick wickets of Hetmyer and Shepherd. However, the West Indies team managed to put up some resistance with contributions from Athanze, Cariah, and the lower-order batsmen, which prevented the batting card from looking even worse for the hosts. Despite their efforts, the West Indies were eventually all-out for 151, resulting in a significant loss by 200 runs for them in the match.

Exceptional All-Round Performance by India

India demonstrated an exceptional all-around performance, not only excelling in their batting but also impressing with their bowling prowess. Mukesh Kumar’s remarkable display earned him 3 valuable wickets, while Shardul Thakur made a significant impact with 4 wickets to his name. Jaydev Unadkat and Kuldeep Yadav also contributed to the team’s success, each securing one and two wickets, respectively. This well-rounded effort in both batting and bowling played a pivotal role in India’s success in the match.

After a successful 1-0 triumph in the test series and a 2-1 victory in the ODI series, the Indian cricket team are now all set to shift focus to the T20Is. The T20I series are scheduled to commence on the 3rd August, Thursday starting with the first match taking place in Trinidad.

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