India and West Indies faced off in the first ODI of the five-match series in Guwahati. The match saw three debutants from either side.
West Indies gave debuts to Oshane Thomas and Chandrapaul Hemraj, while Rishabh Pant made his ODI debut for India. India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to field.
Hemraj was dismissed for 9 by Shami and then Powell (51 in 39 balls) and Shai Hope (32) added 65 runs when Shami removed Hope and Chahal sent back Marlon Samuels back for a duck in his 200th ODI. Khaleel Ahmed then removed Powell and pegged Windies back. But then the young Shimron Hetmyer came forward and took the Indian bowlers apart with a scintillating 74-ball century and a total score of 106 in 78 balls with 6 fours and 6 sixes. He got support from Rovman Powell (22) and captain Jason Holder (38).
Windies also got some late order impetus with Bishoo making 22* and Kemar Roach making 26* and Windies ended on 322/8 in 50 overs.
Mohammad Shami went for 81 runs on his ODI return, picking up 2 wickets. Jadeja too picked two wickets for 66 runs, while Chahal was the pick of Indian bowlers as he picked 3/41.
Indian chase got off to a bad start, as Oshane Thomas castled Shikhar Dhawan for 4. But then Virat Kohli (140 in 107 balls, 21 fours, and 2 sixes) and Rohit Sharma added 246 runs for the second wicket. Kohli was in sublime touch as picked up every Windies bowler, especially Ashley Nurse as he went for 63 runs in 7 overs and even debutant Thomas, who impressively clocked over 145kmph consistently, but went for runs.
Rohit initially played the second fiddle, but as soon as he got to his 50, he broke loose. Virat completed his 36th ODI century in 88 balls, while Rohit reached his century in 84 balls.
Kohli was stumped by Hope off Bishoo and this brought in India’s confirmed no.4 Ambati Rayudu and he along with Rohit took India to win without further loss of wickets.
Rohit Sharma hit a six to bring up his 150 (152* in 117 balls, 15 fours and 8 sixes) and India's win by 8 wickets over Windies in the first ODI.
BRIEF SCORES:
WI 322/8 (S HETMYER 106; Y CHAHAL 3/41) lost to IND 326/2 (V KOHLI 140; R SHARMA 152*) by 8 wickets
