STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsAlas! After playing five international matches (two Tests & three ODIs) in the year 2022, India are off the mark with a six-wicket win over West Indies in the first ODI.
The last time West Indies toured India in 2019 for an ODI series, their batsmen had set up an emphatic win in the first match after they chased 288 with eight wickets remaining. In none of the three matches did they score less than 280. However, this series has started with a major upset from the batsmen.
After being sent in to bat first, West Indies were bundled out for a paltry total of 176. It would have been even lesser, but thanks to a handy knock of 57 down the order from Jason Holder, they were able to reach this total. Holder, in support of Fabian Allen, forged a 78-run partnership for the eighth wicket that saw West Indies to 150+ total from 7 for 79. Yuzvendra Chahal was the star with the ball after he bagged figures of 4 for 49.
In reply, India were off to a superb start with Rohit Sharma and his new opening partner Ishan Kishan, put on an 84-run stand. There was a small hiccup after Rohit fell in the 14th over. From 84 for no loss, India lost four wickets for just 32 runs. However, Suryakumar Yadav alongside the debutant Deepak Hooda, steadied the ship and stitched an unbeaten 62-run partnership for the fifth wicket to see India through and take a lead in the series. India won their 1000th ODI under the captaincy of Rohit and here are a few stats from the game:
India, the first to play 1000 ODIs
The two-time world champions (1983 & 2011) India, played their first ODI game after England (1971), Australia (1971), New Zealand (1973), West Indies (1973) and Pakistan (1973) in 1974. After 51 years of ODI cricket, India now have become the first ever team to feature in 1000 ODIs.
India have won 519 matches out of the 1000 played with a win/loss ratio of 1.204, the third best among the test playing nations. In addition, India and Australia are the only two teams to win 500+ matches in ODIs. Rohit in his first match as a full-time captain won the 1000th ODI and became the fifth Indian captain to win a match on milestone ODIs.
Chahal, just behind his former spin partner
Despite his lean patch in the last couple of years, Chahal has bounced back extremely well in the first ODI. In his first over itself, he picked up two wickets of back-to-back deliveries. In his second over he bagged his third wicket and as an icing on the cake, he finished off the West Indian innings by picking up his fourth in his final over.
With his 1st wicket in the form of Nicholas Pooran, Chahal reached his 100th ODI wicket in just 60 matches. Overall, he was the fifth quickest Indian and among spinners he was the second behind his former spin partners Kuldeep Yadav.
Pollard’s golden duck story
West Indies in trouble at 71 for 4 demanded a good innings from the skipper, Kieron Pollard. Instead, he was dismissed in a hideous way for a golden duck. In ODIs, this was his fifth golden duck, fourth as a captain, third in India and second against India. Only one other captain has suffered as many golden ducks as Pollard in India in ODIs and that has been Arjuna Ranathunga. Among ODI captains, he now joins Angelo Mathews, Eoin Morgan, Mohammed Azharuddin, Prosper Utseya and Sourav Ganguly with four golden ducks as captain. Only Allan Border of Australia has more (5).
The lower-order rescuer for West Indies
Once again, it was Holder, down the order to the rescue of the West Indies. Joining hands with the number nine batsman Allen, Holder stitched a 78-run partnership, their joint third highest in ODIs for the eighth wicket. He reached his 11th score of 50+ and helped West Indies score 176.
En route his knock of 57, Holder became the fifth West Indian player to score 2000+ runs and pick up 100+ wickets in ODIs. Out of his 2011 runs scored, 2010 runs have come when he has batted six or lower for West Indies. He became the first West Indian batsman to score 2000+ runs batting six or lower in this format.
Rohit, the aggressor
In the press conference leading to the first ODI, Rohit said Ishan Kishan would open the innings and everybody thought he would be the aggressor. But, Rohit had other intentions as he came out to chase.
In the first 10 overs, India scored 67 runs without the openers being separated. Out of those 70, Rohit had scored 46 at a strike rate of 124.3. In an innings in ODI, the 46 runs scored by Rohit is the most he had scored in the first 10 overs.
Kohli becomes the fourth batsman to 5k ODI runs at home
It was a short and a strange stay for Virat Kohli in the first ODI against West Indies. Kohli got off the mark with a streaky boundary down to third man. Second ball, he attacked wildly at a ball outside off to get another edgy boundary towards wide third man. Later in his fourth ball he pulled one straight to fine leg and ended his innings of eight runs.
With his second boundary, Kohli registered 5000 ODI runs at home. He was the fourth batsman in the format after Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Jacques Kallis to achieve this feat. To his glory, he was the quickest among the elite list. No other batsmen achieved it in less than 120 innings.
