Indian opener Shubman Gill was delighted after playing a special knock in the third ODI against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad on Tuesday. Gill scored a fine innings of 85 runs off just 92 balls and played a key role in helping India post a gargantuan score of 351 runs.
Gill added a brilliant opening alliance of 143 runs, the highest for India in the West Indies, with Ishan Kishan, who continued his good form to score a quickfire knock of 64-ball 77.
Gill, who has been in terrific form in 2023 in ODI cricket, had missed out in the first two matches but finally got a decent score in the deciding game. The youngster revealed he wanted to bat big but was unfortunately dismissed before completing his century.
On the other hand, West Indies was skittled out for a paltry score of 151 runs in the final game and India went on to win by a huge margin of 200 runs. Mukesh Kumar rattled the home side’s top order as he scalped three early wickets of Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, and Shai Hope.
Subsequently, Shardul Thakur returned with impressive figures of 4-37 whereas Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets. Furthermore, Jaydev Unadkat, who played an ODI for India after almost a decade, took one wicket.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill was awarded Player of the Match for his fine knock. He said in the post-match presentation, “Very special for me, I was looking for a big score but unfortunately that didn’t happen and I’m happy that we ended up on the winning side. It was a good (the pitch), initially the ball was coming on nicely and as the ball got older it became tough to hit.”
He added, “In the last game, I was set and looking for a big one and tried to accelerate, you gotta keep putting the pressure on the opposition as that’s how the ODI game have evolved recently. I just try to do my best and not think too much about who’s playing or not.”
This was India’s 13th consecutive bilateral series win against the West Indies, the most for a team against any side.
India and West Indies will now face each other in five-match T20I series, starting Thursday.
