WI vs IND: Hardik Pandya credits Virat Kohli for imporved batting performance in decider vs West Indies

By India Today Sports Desk: India defeat West Indies by a massive margin of 200 runs in the decider of the ODI series. India were powered by performances from Hardik Pandya, Mukesh Kumar, Shardul Thakur, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson in their dominant show at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

Speaking after the game, India’s stand-in captain Hardik Pandya said that he lives for matches like these that have a little extra at stake.

“I look forward to this kind of game where, you know, think something is on the line rather than, you know, something which is just an international game. This was more than an international game. We knew what was at stake if we fail, there was some disappointment as well. So to kind of play the game we played and the way the boys came up, came out and kind of showed the character,” Hardik said at the post match presentation.

WI vs IND, 3rd ODI: Match Report

India stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were rested once again in the final ODI of the series. Asked about the same, Hardik reiterated coach Rahul Dravid’s position and said that India needed to check out their options. He further added that Rohit and Virat are an integral part of the team.

“Virat and Rohit are a very integral part of the team. And, you know, obviously, this was very important for someone like Rutu to get a game or Axar to get a game because they’ve been playing cricket for so many years, they know how exactly all these situations have been. So kind of giving them the youngsters exposure and kind of making sure that if we want to check something, we have the opportunity to do it,” Pandya said after the game.

WI vs IND, 3rd ODI: Highlights

Pandya was at his very best with the bat on Tuesday, helping India propel to their best ever total in West Indies – 351. Speaking about his 70* off 52 balls, the stand-in captain said that the credit should go to Virat Kohli for the improvement.

“I had a very wonderful chat with Virat a couple of days back, and the kind of input he gave me, he has seen me throughout the years. It’s been almost seven or eight years of international cricket and he has seen me from day one. He had some pointers which really helped me. He just wanted me to spend some time on the crease and get used to the 50 or game as well because we have played so many T20 formats and yeah, that kind of stayed in my mind and I was just waiting for the opportunity. I’m really thankful to him as well to kind of share that experience with me,” Hardik said about Virat Kohli and his batting.

The India vs West Indies ODI series in 2023 was a show of India’s domination against the West Indies. The series, which concluded with India’s victory by 200 runs in the final match, was marked by some terrific performances from fringe India players who were trying to make their place in the Indian ODI squad.

The first match of the series saw India emerging victorious by 5 wickets. The Indian team, led by their captain Rohit Sharma, put up a solid performance, demonstrating their dominance in the game. First, India bowled out the hosts for just 114 runs and then chased it down, courtesy of Ishan Kishan’s half century.

However, the second match of the series brought a surprising turn of events. The West Indies team, under the leadership of Shai Hope, managed to secure their first victory against India since December 2019. The West Indies team displayed an impressive collective effort, both in bowling and fielding. They restricted India to a score of 181, thanks to Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd, who picked up three wickets each. In response, the West Indies chased down the target comfortably with six wickets in hand. Shai Hope scored an unbeaten 63, while Keacy Carty contributed a crucial 48 not out. This victory levelled the series at 1-1.

The third and final match of the series was held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad. The West Indies captain, Shai Hope, won the toss and elected to bowl. However, India amassed a massive score of 351 for five, setting a challenging target for the West Indies. Sanju Samson played a pivotal role in India’s innings, scoring 51 off 41 balls. Despite their best efforts, the West Indies team fell short by 200 runs, handing India a decisive victory and the series win by 2-1.

Throughout the series, both teams exhibited exceptional cricketing skills and sportsmanship. While India emerged as the series winner, the West Indies team also showcased their potential and resilience, especially in their victory in the second match. The series served as a testament to the competitive spirit and high standards of international cricket.