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1st ODI PHOTOS: Kohli, Sharma guide India to easy win
Virat Kohli (86 off 84) and Rohit Sharma (72 off 81) helped India to an easy six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the first One-day international of the three-match series at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Thursday.
Chasing 212 for victory, India attained the target in 35.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan gave India a flying start, the pair scoring at nearly six runs an over.
But the West Indies got the first breakthrough in as early as the fourth over. Pacer Jason Holder made Dhawan (5) chase an out-swinger and the edge was well-taken behind by ‘keeper Johnson Charles.
Sharma, Kohli play it cool
Virat Kohli then came in at No 3 and started his innings with a boundary. He and Rohit took little time to settle down and came down heavily on the wayward bowlers.
They were just as brutal on the spinners as they were on the pace attack. Narsingh Deonarine was given just two overs as he was hammered for 15 runs by the Indian duo.
The way Rohit and Virat were going it looked like India would complete the chase in under 30 overs.
Virat etches his name in record books
But India lost the wicket of Rohit Sharma (72 off 81) against the run of play.
India took the batting Power Play in the 25th over and Rohit went for the big one only to be caught at deep mid-wicket by Lendl Simmons.
Yuvraj Singh then gave Kohli good company as both batsmen went about their business easily.
In the course of his innings Kohli became the joint-fastest with Vivian Richards to get to 5000 runs in ODIs (114 innings).
With just under 20 runs to make, Kohli (86 off 84), who played a dominant innings, missed out on a hundred after falling Holder.
Later, captain M S Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh saw India through.
Spinners help India seize control
Earlier, the spinners helped India to a winning position as the West Indies were dismissed for a paltry 211, well within their stipulated 50 overs, after West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo won the toss and elected to bat.
Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina picked three wickets apiece for the home team.
R Ashwin too helped himself to a couple.
Gayle failed to open his account
Chris Gayle was dismissed even before he could open his account.
The burly left-hander was run-out to the second ball of the innings, bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar doing the job on the follow through.
The batsman grimaced in pain as he took an awkward tumble, landing on his knee while trying to get to the crease.
He was carried off in a stretcher.
Charles played an interesting cameo
Johnson Charles (42) then got into the act.
The West Indies opener smashed Jaidev Unadkat for a boundary and a six before helping himself to three boundaries in Kumar's fourth over.
His 34-ball innings was inclusive of seven boundaries and one six.
However, a brilliant catch by Ravindra Jadeja, off his own bowling, cut short his innings.
Samuels looked comfortable at the crease
Marlon Samuels (24) looked comfortable during his stay at the crease.
Starting off with a huge six over point (off Unadkat), the batsman found the fence on two further occasions.
He helped Charles add 65 runs for the second wicket.
However, his stay was cut short by a delivery that kept low.
Raina picked up three wickets
Suresh Raina was the unlikely bowling hero for India on the day.
The part-timer first had Samuels cleaned up with a length ball that kept low.
He returned to have Lendl Simmons (29) out leg before, thereby ending a 65-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Raina then cleaned up Deonarine (4) with another one that kept low.
Bravo made a strokeful 59
Darren Bravo was the pick of the West Indies batsmen.
The 24-year-old's 77-ball 59 was inclusive of four boundaries and a couple of sixes.
It was his 16th ODI fifty.
However, just when he was looking dangerous Mohammed Shami beat his defenses.
The West Indies never quite recovered after his dismissal.