Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill (BCCI Photo)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Virat Kohli brought up his record 55th ODI century with an emphatic six, marching past 15,000 runs in this format. Between them, India cantered to an 8-wicket win here at the Greenfield International Stadium in a chase that never once felt like a contest. A brilliant opening salvo from Rohit Sharma , whose 35-ball 32 laid the foundation for India’s pursuit, as the hosts eased past the 295-run target in 41.4 overs against a lacklustre West Indies bowling attack.
Kohli, still chasing down whatever he considers “unfinished business” before the 2027 World Cup, was unbeaten on a scarcely believable 88-ball 139 in the end, his tenth ODI ton against the West Indies. India captain Shubman Gill also looked imperious, as he reached his 10th ODI hundred by unfurling his signature cuts and drives. India’s insouciance with the bat came after a clinical display from Kuldeep Yadav, his wrist-spin ripping through the West Indies middle-order with a four-wicket haul. This match was a lesson in class, distance and everything in between.
Just when the West Indies looked like running away with the game, Kuldeep spun a web with figures of 10-1-40-4. It was a tour-de-force performance by India’s virtuoso chinaman bowler who was playing a different contest to the rest of his teammates. After a string of wide deliveries that left West Indies batter John Campbell visibly tetchy, Kuldeep dropped one full and straight at the stumps. On cue, Campbell got provoked and went for a mistimed sweep that was picked up by Prasidh Krishna at backward square-leg. Kuldeep then conned West Indies captain Shai Hope with drift, eliciting a leading edge that ballooned towards Ravindra Jadeja at cover.