India restricted Windies for just 109 for 8 in the first T20 International at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday.
Windies entered the contest with the stats and history firmly favouring them. The reigning world champions hold a 5-2 win-loss ratio over India in eight meetings. They have also the last four encounters against the Men in Blue. However, history and stats made little difference as India blew them away with the ball.
Asked to bat first, Windies were off to a decent start, racing away to 16 off 2 overs. However, the game turned on its head once Umesh Yadav sent back Denesh Ramdin. Six balls later, Shai Hope departed after a comical run out which opened the floodgates. Any hopes of scoring big took a big blow when Shimron Hetmyer was sent back by Jasprit Bumrah for just 10. Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo stopped the rot for a while by adding 19 runs before both of them departed in quick succession. As a result, Windies found themselves reeling at 49 for 5.
Windies kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and never looked in contention to score a competitive total. Fabian Allen then scored 27 off 20 to guide the team to a respectable score.
For India, Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball, taking 3 for 13 off his four overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
Worst ever throw in the history of cricket. Itna kharab sirf politicians fek sakte hain. #IndvWI
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 4, 2018
Jasprit Bumrah bowling to Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya collecting the ball. Net session going all well for the next IPL season. #INDvWI
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) November 4, 2018
Rovman Powell is Kuldeep's bunny. He just cannot pick him.
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) November 4, 2018
This is what we've dreamed of big bro @krunalpandya24 ?????? pic.twitter.com/aY6P1jfAwd
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) November 4, 2018
When past comes in the form of MeMe ?? #INDvWIN pic.twitter.com/9KAjLcrbXI
— Hunटरर ♂ ? (@nickhunterr) November 4, 2018
Krunal Pandya's first IPL wicket was Dinesh Karthik. Today, while picking up his MI mate Kieron Pollard as his first international wicket for India, Dinesh Karthik is the keeper.#INDvWI
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 4, 2018
Oh, West Indies! What is it with you and wrist spin?
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 4, 2018
West Indies should start preparing for the 2nd match rightaway IMO. This game looks lost because of rank shoddy batting
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 4, 2018
Such a bundle of talent Kuldeep. He has now got a quick delivery going at 107 kph. His average speed is in the 70s.
????#IndvWI— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 4, 2018
Why wouldn’t you take the review, Rovman? #DRS #Kuldeep #IndvWI pic.twitter.com/cCUP48p8pn
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 4, 2018
Hope Shai of the crease. (This is a better caption I think). Any more entries? pic.twitter.com/45ygRTceZk
— Ramki (@ramkid) November 4, 2018
During Tests it felt that Windies batsmen were playing T20.
In T20 it feels as if they’re playing T10. ?? #IndvWI— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/imsgshinde/status/1059085463279947776
https://twitter.com/Mridul20283451/status/1059089333548998656
The older Darren Bravo gets, the more he looks like @BrianLara. And that makes me happy.
— Uday Shankar R (@dumberthanyou_r) November 4, 2018
Two players making their T20 International debut in India after playing 100+ T20s here – Umesh Yadav (119*) and Kieron Pollard (148*). #INDvWI
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 4, 2018
kl rahul 2 specialities…
1) Taking good reviews…
2) fielding…#INDvWIN #ind— crick_foot_lover (@strawhatvibss) November 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/Aditya_k168/status/1059095586723389440