India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first against West Indies in the third and final ODI of the series, in Ahmedabad.
Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan had previously missed the first two ODI matches of the series after he was tested positive for the Covid-19 virus and now the experienced southpaw is back in the squad. Apart from Dhawan, three other changes were made to the squad as well. Shreyas Iyer, Kuldeep Yadav and Deepak Chahar were included in the squad for the third ODI.
Indian team under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma had already won the first two ODIs of the series and clinched the three-match ODI series comfortably.
First ODI
In the first match of the series, West Indies had batted first and registered a total of 176 runs in 43.5 overs. Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal had picked up four wickets to decimate the opposition batting lineup. Washington Sundar, on the other hand gave Chahal a good support as he bagged three crucial wickets in the match.
In reply, Indian team lost four wickets and reached the target with 132 balls remaining. Skipper Rohit Sharma gave a good start to the run chase after he scored 60 runs off 51 balls. Ishan Kishan who opened the innings in absence of the regular opening batters, also played a formidable knock of 28 runs off 36 deliveries.
Later, Suryakumar Yadav (34 runs off 36 balls) and debutant Deeopak Hooda (26 runs off 32 balls) showed terrific batting skills to earn victory for the hosts.
Two back-to-back victories
In the second match of the series, India had batted first and set a target of 238 runs. Suryakumar Yadav maintained his terrific form as he played a superb innings (64 runs off 83 balls) to help India in reaching a defendable total. Earlier, KL Rahul who had opened the innings missed a half century by a single run.
In reply, India’s Prasidh Krishna produced an amazing bowling display and claimed four wickets conceding just 12 runs 9 overs, to restrict the visitors within a total of 193 runs in 46 overs. Along with, Krishna, all-rounder Shardul Thakur scalped two crucial wickets to earn a 44-run victory in the second ODI match of the series.
India Playing XI:
Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant(w), Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
West Indies Playing XI:
Shai Hope(w), Brandon King, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Nicholas Pooran(c), Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Odean Smith, Alzarri Joseph, Hayden Walsh, Kemar Roach