Gill and Kohli Centuries Against West Indies
India kicked off their home white-ball campaign with a convincing ODI victory over West Indies. The Gill and Kohli centuries against West Indies underlined India’s confidence on the field and their determination to wrap up a series win on home soil.
Gill and Kohli Centuries Against West Indies Give India a Strong Start to the Home ODI Series
The scheduled series between India and the West Indies got underway on September 27, with three ODIs and five T20Is on the agenda. For the Caribbean side, the tour was always going to be a tough test: India holds the top spot in both the ICC ODI and T20I team rankings. Playing in front of their home crowd gives the Indian players an extra lift, too. The opening ODI in Thiruvananthapuram showcased the hosts’ superiority, with the Gill and Kohli centuries against West Indies leaving the visitors scratching their heads. India cruised to an eight-wicket victory as the accomplished duo of Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli both reached three figures.
Virat Kohli showed once again why he is known as the “Chase Master”, adding another century to his name. His 139-run knock also took him past the 15,000-run mark in ODI cricket. Shubman Gill offered the opposition one early opening, but they failed to take it. He made the most of that reprieve, contributing 110 runs off 108 balls to India’s total.
Rohit Sharma had to settle for 32 on this occasion, with Alzarri Joseph claiming his wicket. India’s spinner Kuldeep Yadav also made his presence felt, denting West Indies’ hopes despite a maiden ODI century from Barbadian Justin Greaves. The match ultimately went the hosts’ way, as expected, although the Caribbean visitors did everything they could to put up a fight.
Gill and Kohli Centuries Force West Indies to Rethink Their Approach for the Rest of the ODI Series
The second ODI offered India a chance to settle the series: another win would seal the 50-over contest with a game to spare. West Indies, meanwhile, needed to throw everything at the hosts to keep the series alive. What followed was a gripping encounter and an extraordinary run chase. Kohli did not reach three figures against the West Indies this time, but Gill certainly did – and his innings was far from the match’s only talking point. The West Indies eventually lost by the same margin as in the opener: eight wickets. Even so, their bid to topple the world’s top-ranked ODI side was a worthy effort. The second ODI in Guwahati produced a string of remarkable milestones:
- West Indies set a new team record for their highest ODI total, posting 405/7 in 50 overs and setting the hosts a formidable target.
- India pulled off their highest successful ODI run chase, reaching 406/2 in 43.3 overs. It was also the second-highest successful chase in ODI history.
- Five centuries were scored across the match – a first in ODI history.
- Shubman Gill powered past 200 to register a double century, finishing with 223 off 133 balls. He also set a new record for the highest individual score by a captain in an ODI.
- Rohit Sharma reached 12,000 ODI runs and became the first batter to hit 200 ODI sixes in a single country.
- Kuldeep Yadav claimed his 200th ODI wicket, while KL Rahul made his 100th ODI appearance.
The third ODI in Mullanpur Garibdas also delivered plenty of tension. This time, the West Indies completed their highest successful ODI run chase, reaching 352/5 in 48.2 overs to overhaul India’s 351/7 from 50 overs and win by five wickets. The defeat did not change the overall outcome for India, who had already secured the series. For the Caribbean side, however, the victory ensured they avoided a whitewash. Next on the schedule is a five-match T20I series.