Twitter Reactions: Kuldeep, Jadeja, Kishan lift India 1-0 up

Kuldeep Yadav. (Pic source: RANDY BROOKS/AFP)

Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav spun a web around West Indies before Ishan Kishan’s 46-ball 52 led India to an emphatic five-wicket win in the ODI series opener in Bridgetown, Barbados on July 27.

As if the shambolic run at the ODI World Cup Qualifiers was not enough, West Indies prolonged the rut with another bizarre performance, as not even the comforts of home and the addition of Shimron Hetmyer could change their fortunes.

They were wrapped up for a meagre 114 in 23 overs, with Yadav and Jadeja scalping seven between them and inducing a collapse that saw the hosts lose seven for 26 in a space of 44 balls. However, before the spinners partied in the Caribbean, the pace trio of debutant Mukesh Kumar, Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur put the opponent top-order to test on track on which hitting through the line was not easy.

Pandya gave India the first success as early as the third over, when Kyle Mayers attempted to take him on but could only hit his back-of-a-length delivery as far as Rohit Sharma at mid-on. No. 3 Alick Athanaze (22 off 18) attempted to steady the ship with a 38-run stand involving Brandon King.

For his part, the young batter looked firm in the middle, flicking Pandya for a six before piercing the in-field to pick a four on the next ball. However, the alliance was cut short courtesy of a terrific catch from Ravindra Jadeja at backward point, who timed his jump perfectly to send Athanaze packing, giving debutant Mukesh his maiden breakthrough in the format.

West Indies endured a nervy passage of play, with incoming Shai Hope facing a loud lbw shout on the first ball he faced. While he survived, Brandon King was undone immediately after Athanaze’s demise as Shardul Thakur struck his middle stump with a wobble seam delivery that jagged back in.

Much like Hope, the next-in Hetmyer faced an appeal on the first ball he faced. India looked confident for a caught-behind appeal but ended up burning a review as replays showed the ball was well away from making any contact. The Hope-Hetmyer duo added 43 off 45 in a period of play West Indies looked slightly settled in, but a rude awakening awaited.

Jadeja was expensive to start with, leaking nine and 11 in his first two overs, But it did not take him long to get back to his accurate best. He struck the first time in the 16th over when Hetmyer attempted to scoop him over the keeper’s head, though only to redirect the ball to the stumps. The spinner made up for the expensive start with a double-wicket 18th over as he got Rovman Powell caught at first slip for four and then had Romario Shepherd gone for a two-ball duck thanks to Virat Kohli’s sensational one-handed grab at the second slip.

Even before West Indies could have made sense of what transpired, Kuldeep barged in through the opening made by Jadeja’s incisive spell. He rapped Dominic Drakes on the pads with a googly, which the batter reviewed to no avail. Kuldeep got his second in identical fashion, this time Yannic Cariah being at the receiving end with India reviewing the lbw call successfully. Hope dispatched Jadeja for a six over long off in the next over but it only delayed the inevitable as Kuldeep returned in the next over to wrap up.

He had Hope dismissed lbw as he attempted a reverse sweep but failed to get any bat on it; another unsuccessful review followed as West Indies lost their top-scorer. Only three balls later, Kuldeep’s googly took Jayden Seales’ edge and settled into Pandya’s hands at leg slip.

India’s not-so-fluent chase

India’s chase was not as fluent and breezy as one would have expected at the halfway mark, with Gudakesh Motie and Cariah making good use of the grip and turn on offer. Indian captain Rohit Sharma opted not to open while Virat Kohli also did not show up at his usual number, as India commenced the small chase with Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill.

Kishan flew off the blocks quickly as he whacked an authoritative pull off Drakes in the opening over before Gill opened his account with a top-edge over the keeper’s head off Seales. West Indies exerted some control thereafter, disallowing the batters to open their arms and it was Seales who drew first blood for his side, as he induced an edge from Gill which King did well to grab at the second slip despite the ball dipping sharply.

In at No. 3, Suryakumar Yadav flicked Drakes for a four before driving Seales through the covers for another boundary to get up and running. Kishan continued his business from the other end, picking two fours off Seales – an easing on-drive past the bowler followed by a boundary through midwicket – to continue the flourishing partnership with his able ally. Even as the Barbados track did not have much for Suryakumar to unfurl his usual pyrotechnics, he sent a Seales short ball over fine leg with a trademark ramp in the eighth over.

More follows…

Team India deciding batting order today 😛 #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/FtkXDSG7bL

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 27, 2023

Need Mukesh Kumar and Umran Malik opening in the next match with Kuldeep Yadav at 3 to revive ODI cricket..

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) July 27, 2023

COMEBACK ✅✅
Kuldeep Yadav returns after a long hiatus and scalps a wicket in the first over. ❤️❤️ #WIvsIND #KuldeepYadav pic.twitter.com/Y9FsTuI8VR

— Ridhima Pathak (@PathakRidhima) July 27, 2023

Captain Rohit Sharma finishes off in style with a four and India win the match.

This is giving me goosebumps. pic.twitter.com/SKp1YReA6O

— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) July 27, 2023

Ishan Kishan scores half century and Virat Kohli appreciating his knock. Well played Champ ❤️ pic.twitter.com/PICqxAFJxK

— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) July 27, 2023

Sacrificed his Batting position in Tests
Sacrificed his Batting position in ODIs for youngsters
Virat Kohli most Selfless player Out there That’s Why Virat Kohli is 🐐#ViratKohli #INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/qebhNsPDvN

— Priyanshu (@PriyanshuVK18K) July 27, 2023

Today we have seen that Indian team is struggling to chase 115 without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. pic.twitter.com/oF8Ucbd6xm

— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns) July 27, 2023

Suryakumar Yadav can play this 10 times in a row and I will be in awe every time. 🔥🥵 pic.twitter.com/hAjWvCTZJs

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) July 27, 2023

Suryakumar Yadav batting at No.3 with Sanju Samson’s jersey. pic.twitter.com/jnqyvQCqbz

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 27, 2023

The management didn’t include Sanju Samson in the team but it seems they have made Surya wear his jersey to ease the pain of the fans. 🙃#INDvWI #SanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/kb5YVGIFvf

— Vipin Tiwari (@vipintiwari952) July 27, 2023