Last Update on: December 22nd, 2019 at 09:45 pm
Well, the Indian National Cricket Team secured yet another series victory to their name to finish the sensational year on a positive note. The brilliant batting display by Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul upfront, which was followed by the skipper Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, in the end, helped India seal a 3-match series with 2-1 in Cuttack on Sunday.
Getting into the details, Initially, it was India, who won the toss, opted to bowl first. However, Evin Lewis and Shai Hope started things well by adding 57 runs for the first wicket. It was Ravindra Jadeja, who gave the first wicket for India by knocking down Evin Lewis. Following him, Roston Chase walked back when Navdeep Saini bowled a stunning yorker, which reminded Waqar Younis for the cricket fans.
Virat Kohli scored 85 off 81 balls:
Despite losing Chase, Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard stood tall for West Indies to make the Indian fielders chase the leather more often than not. Surprisingly, Kuldeep Yadav had an ordinary outing in the ongoing ODI. The left-arm wrist-spinner has conceded 67 runs in 10 overs without picking up a wicket.
Just when things like drifting away, Nicholas Pooran came to the party for the visitors alongside Kieron Pollard. Both have never settled the bowlers in the middle and received all the accolades from the Indian stalwart players in the dugout. In reply to the chase, the Indian openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul started things well with a 122-run partnership for the first wicket.
Though Rohit Sharma walked back, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli ensured India stay in the hunt. India were in a spot of bother when KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Kedar Jadhav walked back in quick succession, but Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja formed a brilliant partnership to put a full stop to the worries.
Just when India need 30 runs off 25 balls, Keemo Paul gave a perfect twist by scalping the wicket of Virat Kohli. However, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur finished things off in style.
Twitter Reactions:
In the last five years this is the first time Kohli has got out in the 80s or 90s in an ODI chase. #IndvWI
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) December 22, 2019
Thakur is my name ! #INDvsWI
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) December 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/ImNsamy/status/1208778234063667200
S Thakur You Beauty😍😍😍#INDvsWI #INDvWI
— CricketUlagam (@Cricket_Ulagam) December 22, 2019
Look at Virat Kohli. Just look at the team man in him. Celebrating Shardul's crazy hits so amazingly while having being tagged as the Chase King. #INDvWI
— Jaanvi 🏏 (@ThatCric8Girl) December 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/YadneshDhurand1/status/1208780564469149696
Masterstroke by Virat Kohli to get an extra batsman Shardul Thakkur into the team. We were all misguided that he was a fast bowler. #INDvWI
— Kush Mufc (@kushmufc) December 22, 2019
Masterstroke by Virat Kohli to get an extra batsman Shardul Thakkur into the team. We were all misguided that he was a fast bowler. #INDvWI
— Kush Mufc (@kushmufc) December 22, 2019
This is the result why you need bowlers who can bat at no 8.#INDvWI
— Manish (@iHitman7) December 22, 2019
Very impressed with Navdeep Saini. Hits pace easily, good bouncer, very good yorker. Imagining him in red ball cricket….
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 22, 2019
Well won India! Good contributions from the top 3 but a series which has posed more questions to be answered. Learnt very few new things, plenty to work on.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) December 22, 2019
He doesn’t get much credit for his batting but @imjadeja has been an absolute champion. Sensible solid batting ! Take a bow Jaddu ! #INDvsWI
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) December 22, 2019
India wins the series. Great end to 2019.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 22, 2019
Shardul Thakur has shown that he has the skills to get the runs at the same rate he concedes them. #INDvsWI #ShardulThakur
— Gautam Chauhan🏏 (@Gautamchauhan2) December 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/shashankbhawani/status/1208782569967276032
Superb run chase by India! Well played Virat, Rahul and Rohit and Jadeja indeed a good finisher! India won the ODI series 2-1! 🇮🇳 #IndvWI
— Devaraj7 (@D3v4raj) December 22, 2019
Terrific match and terrific series. Highly competitive and India had many players rising to the occasion. You can't keep Kohli silent that too especially during a run chase 🔥 Jadeja took the responsibility and Shardul played a helping hand which sealed it for us 💛#INDvsWI
— Sriram (@SriramARR) December 22, 2019
