Watch: Virat Kohli Pumped Up As Shardul Thakur Takes Sheldon Cottrell To Cleaners

Virat Kohli-led India won the third and final ODI against West Indies by four wickets to clinch the three-match series 2-1. India had their back against the wall when West Indies finished their innings on a mammoth total of 315 for 5. But the batsmen came up with a good effort to chase down the total inside 49 overs.

Asked to bat first, Shai Hope (42) and Evin Lewis (21) gave West Indies a fine start by adding 57 runs in the opening partnership. The visitors, however, were struggling to score quickly before Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard took charge. By the time the 25th over ended, West Indies had only managed to put 94 runs on the board.

But Pooran and Pollard made sure West Indies get a good total to defend. While Pooran slammed 89 off just 64 balls, Pollard smashed 74 from just 51 balls. In reply, India crossed the finishing line with quite ease in the end. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli scored fifties to lay the foundation for the big chase.

CHAMPIONS ??#INDvWI #TeamIndia @paytm pic.twitter.com/HqR5lvT2Ng

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 22, 2019

India were comfortably placed at 188 for 2 before suffering a mini-collapse and finding themselves reeling at 228 for 5. But Virat Kohli held firm from one end and put India on the brink of the win. By the time he was dismissed for 85, India needed only 30 runs from 23 balls. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur then did the rest.

Virat Kohli pumped up:

Virat Kohli must have feared the worst when he was dismissed by Keemo Paul in the 47th over. However, Jadeja and Shardul Thakur ensured that their captain’s effort does not go in vain. The game turned completely in India’s way when Sheldon Cottrell came to bowl the 48th over with the hosts needing 22 from 18 balls.

The first two balls went for three runs before Shardul Thakur hit Cottrell for a six and a four on the third and fourth ball respectively. India eventually collected 15 runs from the over and sealed the win in the next over. And as Thakur hit Cottrell for a six and a four, Kohli could not contain his excitement. As the cameras turned towards Kohli, the India skipper was seen shouting and pumping his fist in air out of delight.

Here is a video of that moment: