Windies v India 3rd ODI - 5 Game Changing Moments

Team India was put through a test by this inexperienced Windies bowling side. They were fantastic in the field today as they restricted this fantastic batting unit to a modest 258. India were taken aback by early fall of wickets and had to work their way through to fifty overs. Dhoni was the anchor of the innings and even Rahane played a handy knock.

Rahane made 72 of 112 deliveries making sure India were out of trouble when he fell to a fantastic catch in the deep by Devendra Bishoo. Dhoni and Jadhav then did the rest as they smashed the bowlers to all parts of the ground. This helped India get past the 250 mark. The men in maroon, however, could not chase the score of 252 down.

They were halted by some brilliant bowling from the youngster Kuldeep Yadav and also the veteran Ravi Ashwin. This victory made sure that India cannot lose the series and if Windies lose their next match then they will have to bear another series loss at home. However, this game had some fantastic performances and there some magical moments in the game. Let us look at five game-changing moments.

1. Virat Kohli’s wicket

Virat Kohli is a world beater and his wicket is the most prized wicket for any bowler. India, for the first time in the series, had got off to a bad start. They were struggling at 34 for 1 after 9 overs and Virat had to be careful. However, Windies were magnificent against the Indian captain. They had plans for him and they executed it well.

Holder made sure the Indian captain was back in the hut before he could damage any more. A line hovering around off stump was bowled, the length was a bit short and bounce was plenty. Virat tried to cut the bowl down to third man but ended up looping it towards gully. Kyle Hope was present there but had to dive to his left and caught it with one hand. This wicket not only sent Virat back but also got the confidence of Windies back on track.

2. MS Dhoni’s comeback

MS Dhoni came in to bat at a crucial time. It was a tricky situation as India were 100 for 3. Another wicket and it would have been difficult to post a good score. Hence the former Indian captain came out and defended well. Rahane was crawling towards another century but he succumbed to a fantastic catch in the deep.

Dhoni was playing on 39 of 59 deliveries when Rahane got out in the 43rd. After that MS Dhoni came into his own. He scored a magnificent half century and hit 39 runs in the next 19 deliveries. This onslaught was well complimented by Kedar Jadhav who also played a fantastic inning at the end.

3. Kedar Jadhav’s cameo

Kedar Jadhav walked into bat right in the death overs. He has the ability to score at the rate of knots and he did. His little outburst was important to India as they posted a defendable total of 251. Jadhav played an important knock as he notched up a score of 40 in just 26 deliveries.

His innings was important as he complimented Dhoni well in the death and that was extremely important for India to get past that 250 mark and give bowlers something to defend. His hit 4 fours and a six to get to 40.

4. Umesh Yadav’s breakthrough 

India needed wickets up top to defend this total. Windies have some excellent batters but are short on experience. They lack vigour and that showed in their game throughout their innings. However, Evin Lewis, one of the better batsmen in the Windies team was sent packing by a peach of a delivery by Umesh Yadav.

He was just on 2 when Yadav came round the wicket and breached his defence. Umesh Yadav bowled an inswinger to the left-hander which ended up disrupting his off stump. This gave India a fantastic start to build on and Windies were handed in a blow early on.

5. Rovman Powell’s wicket

Rovman Powell is too good a batter to bat at number 7. He has the ability to defend and to score quickly as well. He was playing with intent and picking up singles and also scoring with boundaries. He and Jason Mohammad were playing very well.

However, Kuldeep Yadav is Virat Kohli’s trump card. He has foxed the best batters in the world during the India vs Australia Tests and now Powell was outdone by him too. Powell was unsettled by his googlies and couldn’t pick one. He tried to heave Yadav through the on side but ended up in Pandya’s safe hands. This meant that Windies’s challenge was done and dusted as they fell within the next 16 runs.