The Indian cricket team finished the 3-match ODI series in style as they registered a big win over West Indies in the third and the final ODI of the series. The match was played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba where team India defeated the hosts by a huge margin of 200 runs and won the series by 2-1.
Things went on pretty smooth for the Indian team on-the-field but during the post-match presentation, the Indian skipper Hardik Pandya who was leading the team in the absence of Rohit Sharma minced no words in criticizing the West Indian Cricket Board for mismanagement and poor arrangements.
Hardik Pandya stated that the venue of the third ODI was one of the nicest where they have played but things can be better in regard to travelling and other things when they come to play next time. He added that they faced some problems last time as well and this is high time that the West Indian Board should take note of such things. Hardik Pandya further added that they don’t demand luxuries but there are some basic necessities which should be taken good care of; other than that, they really enjoyed playing in West Indies.
Earlier, the Indian cricketers expressed their unhappiness to the BCCI when their late-night flight to Barbados from Trinidad got delayed by almost 4 hours because of which they didn’t get proper sleep before the first ODI of the series. The senior cricketers have requested the BCCI not to book late-night flights, especially when the gap between the matches is less.
As far as the match is concerned, the toss was won by the hosts and they chose to bowl first. Batting first, India put up their highest ODI score of 351/5 in West Indies on the score board as the Indian openers Ishan Kishan (77 runs, 64 balls, 8 fours & 3 sixes) and Shubman Gill (85 runs, 92 balls, 11 fours) produced a partnership of 143 runs for the first wicket. The senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were rested once again and Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson got the chance to play in the 3rd ODI. While Ruturaj Gaikwad got out for 8 runs, Sanju Samson played a brilliant knock of 51 runs (41 balls, 2 fours & 4 sixes) and skipper Hardik Pandya led from the front as he remained not out at the score of 70* runs (52 balls, 4 fours & 5 sixes). Suryakumar Yadav also played a useful knock of 35 runs (30 balls, 2 fours & 2 sixes).
The West Indian batters failed in putting up resistance as the whole team got out for 151 runs in 36 overs, the pick of the bowlers for India was Shardul Thakur who took 4 wickets. Mukesh Kumar also took 3 wickets and Kuldeep Yadav dismissed 2 batters.
While Shubman Gill was adjudged as the Player of the Match, Ishan Kishan was declared as the Player of the Series.
India and West Indies will now clash in the first T20I of the 5-match series which will be played tomorrow (3 August 2023) at the same venue.
