Published on Sep 27:
GUWAHATI: Powered by dominant centuries from Virat Kohli and skipper Shubman Gill, India comfortably defeated the West Indies by eight wickets in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Chasing 296 for victory, India cruised to the target in 41.4 overs while losing just two wickets. Kohli anchored the chase with a blistering, unbeaten 139 off 88 balls, powered by 10 boundaries and nine sixes. Gill contributed a superb 108 off 110 deliveries, laced with 13 boundaries and a six, as the pair forged a decisive 151-run stand for the second wicket. During his innings, Kohli became the fastest batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs and also set the record for the most ODI runs scored on home soil.
Earlier, Justin Greaves slammed a brilliant 101 to guide the West Indies to 295/7 in their 50 overs. Greaves stitched a solid 135-run opening partnership with John Campbell, who scored 62. Kuldeep Yadav triggered a middle-order collapse with a four-wicket haul—including two wickets in consecutive balls—before Amir Jangoo’s unbeaten 58 off 43 balls pushed the visitors close to the 300-mark.
PHOTO CAPTION: Kohli and Gill sharing a lighter moment during their partnership on Sunday