Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant hit defiant half-centuries on Friday before the Indian bowlers fired in unison to restrict the West Indies for just 169, winning the third and final ODI by a comprehensive margin of 96 runs and completing a series sweep against the visitors. India had already clinched the series with two comfortable victories at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
In his first assignment as full-time ODI skipper, Rohit has now become the eighth captain to lead India in a whitewash win (bilateral series) in the 50-over format. This is also India’s first-ever whitewash win against the West Indies in ODI cricket.
Chasing 266 for the win, a listless West Indies camp was bowled out for just 169 in 37.1 overs, which was a testament to India’s dominance in all three games of the rubber. Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj led the Indian bowling attack, picking three wickets each, while Deepak Chahar and Kuldeep Yadav also added two plucks each under their belt.
Earlier, Shreyas notched up 80 after the Indian top-order faltered yet again in the series. The 27-year-old Shreyas teamed up with Rishabh Pant (56) to put on 110 runs for the fourth wicket. A shaky start from the hosts saw skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for nought back in the pavilion, leaving India tottering at 43 for three.
