Images from the first One-Day International between India and the West Indies, at Port of Spain, on Friday
Shikhar Dhawan scored a well-crafted 97 and Shubman Gill hit a classy 64 in his ODI comeback before India held their nerve to pull off a three-run victory over the West Indies in the series opener, at Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Friday.
Openers Dhawan (97 off 99 balls) and Gill (64 off 53) shared a 119-run stand before the West Indies fought back to restrict India to 308 for 7.
The West Indies needed 15 off the final over for a record chase at Queens Park Oval but Mohammed Siraj was able to stop the rampaging Romario Shepherd (38 not out off 25).
At the top of the order, Kyle Mayers (75 off 68) and Shamarh Brooks (46 off 61) raised West Indies' hopes with a 117-run stand for the second wicket before Brandon King (54 off 66) took the game deep.
In the end, the West Indies fell short and ended with 305 for 6.
Shardul Thakur had struck twice earlier in the chase to bring back India into the game, dismissing the well-set duo of Mayers and Brooks.
The highly-rated Mayers played a few spectacular strokes during his innings, including a one-legged pull shot off Siraj.
Skipper Nicholas Pooran (25 off 26) came in and punished Prasidh Krishna with two flat sixes over deep square leg and deep midwicket.
The hosts needed 60 off the last 90 balls and the 56-run stand between King and Akeal Hosein (32 not out off 32) kept India on the edge.
However, Yuvzvendra Chahal came up with a timely breakthrough to make the job tougher for the West Indies.
Earlier, Gill, playing his first ODI since December 2020, produced some sublime strokes in his 52-ball knock while Dhawan took his time before changing gears.
Shreyas Iyer, who has had his troubles of late with the short ball, was back amongst the runs with a fluent 54 off 57 balls.
Gill and Dhawan shared a 119-run stand off 106 balls before the former was run-out in the 18th over against the run of play.
Gill, one of the most watchable batters when in full flow, was very comfortable against the fast bowlers.
He hooked Alzarri Joseph for a six before delighting the crowd with a perfectly-placed punch off the back foot for a boundary.
He was equally attractive playing the cover drives when the ball was pitched up.
His innings comprised six fours and a couple of sixes. It took a brilliant direct hit from Pooran to dismiss him. It was Gill's maiden ODI fifty in what was his fourth game.
Dhawan, who only plays one format and had a lean run in England, paced his innings well with Gill going strong at the other end. The southpaw collected 10 fours and three sixes. His go-to-shot was the slog sweep off left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie.
The other left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein impressed by getting the ball to turn sharply.
India were set for a 350-plus score but Dhawan's dismissal for the seventh time in the 90s led to a middle-order collapse with the visitors reduced to 252 for five from 213 for one.
Sanju Samson (12) squandered a good opportunity to make an impact while Suryakumar Yadav (13) fell to a loose shot.
Deepak Hooda (27) and Axar Patel (21) took India past 300 with a 42-run stand for the sixth wicket.
