Twitter Reactions: Rahane, Kohli propel India to a big score

A total of 300 plus was recorded at the Queens Park Oval for the second time in 10 years. India was the last team to do that when they posted 311/7 against West Indies in 2013. This time India registered a run less but also lost two wickets fewer as they scored 310/5 in a rain curtailed 43 overs a side game.

Jason Holder called right at the toss for the second time in a row and opted to field again. Openers Rahane and Dhawan hit a flurry of boundaries to get India off to a positive start. Rahane, in particular, was very strong on anything short and hit boundaries on either side of the wicket. Dhawan too got in the act when he got stuck into Holder, hitting him for consecutive boundaries in the 4th and 8th over. He marched on after getting off to a sedate start. Alzarri Joseph was given some rough treatment by the southpaw as he hit the bowler for three fours in an over. After reaching his half-century in 49 balls, Dhawan was stumped off Ashley Nurse for a classy 63. Rahane and Kohli joined hands in the middle. It was Rahane’s turn to play enterprising strokes whilst Kohli got settled into his innings.

The Rahane-Kohli show

The duo added 97 runs for the second wicket off just 94 balls to build a great platform for the final flourish in the last few overs. Rahane got to his third ODI century when he hit a lovely cover drive in the 34th over off Cummins. He was soon making the long walk back to the pavilion as he was bowled two balls later for a scintillating 103. Kohli took centre stage after Rahane’s exit even if Hardik Pandya was promoted to bat at No. 4. The experiment failed as West Indies had done their homework and peppered Pandya with a lot of full balls wide outside the out stump. Pandya couldn’t resist the temptation and slashed at one of them only to find the hands of the third man fielder.

Kohli injected momentum into the innings as he hit four sixes – one over cover, one over long off and two wristy flicks which sailed over long on and midwicket – during his enterprising 66-ball 87. Yuvraj had his second consecutive failure of the series as he was caught behind for 14. Dhoni and Jadhav played an unbeaten knock of 13 coming off 13 and 6 balls respectively.

The last over saw skipper Holder been taken off the attack due to him bowling two beamers in the over. The last ball of the innings was then delivered by Jonathan Carter which was swept by Jadhav for two runs.

We bring you to the best tweets during the course of the Indian innings:

Most times 300+ in ODIs
96 Ind
95 Aus
77 SAf
69 Pak
63 SL
57 Eng
51 NZ#WIvInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 25, 2017

Virat Kohli becomes the 4th player to aggregate 6000 ODI runs at #3 after Ponting (12662), Sangakkara (9747) & Kallis (7774) #WIvIND

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) June 25, 2017

Great innings from Rahane and Kohli. 310 in 43 overs is huge. Excited to watch Kuldeep bowl.#WIvIND

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) June 25, 2017

The wrist shot @imVkohli plays are unbeatable #WIvIND

— Virat Obsessed (@SaiNikhita) June 25, 2017

Virat Kohli 50+ in ODIs
100+: 27
90s: 5
80s: 10
70s: 7
60s: 11
50s: 10 #WIvInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 25, 2017

Think these should be enough. Hopefully an entire afternoon's cricket

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 25, 2017

Another ODI, another Shikhar Dhawan 50…and another solid opening partnership by the Indian openers. #WIvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 25, 2017

310 in 43 overs with loss of 5 wkts. It's a huge total to chase fr young Windies side. #WIvIND

— Mayur Pagare (@mayurpagare007) June 25, 2017

Well played @ajinkyarahane88 @imVkohli @SDhawan25 ?? #WIvIND

— Gopal (@2venugopal7) June 25, 2017

This not a tour , this is a holiday package for India for 5ODI & 1 T20 to rejuvenate in Caribbean island & improve batting averages#WIvIND

— Boring… (@graphicalcomic) June 25, 2017

Always thought @ajinkyarahane88 is too costly to miss in a playing 11 squad #CT17 class hundred in #WIvIND ??

— abinesh nagendran (@abineshlibra) June 25, 2017

Well Played Both @SDhawan25 & @imVkohli Scoring Half Centuries Today Against West Indies #WIvIND

— Sharma Ji (Akki Fan) (@imAbhishrma) June 25, 2017

The Aussie's unlucky 87 gobbles up 2 indians in 2 consecutive ODIs.(Dhawan & Kohli)
As if indian superstitions are not enough.#WIvIND

— Mitul Bora (@Mi2L008) June 25, 2017

Bumrah's brother from another mother #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/sPMbBAQc4i

— SJ (@RealSheetal) June 25, 2017

Another perfect super innings played by the Kohli and Rahane but Kohli sixes are magnificent and Rahane fours are classic. #WIvIND

— Bhavesh Vasoya (@vasoya_bhavesh) June 25, 2017