‘Clinical in all three departments’ – Kohli and Rohit reflect on ‘a dominating performance’

The Windies put up a 300+ total in the first ODI, and though a double-century partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli helped India chase down the total easily enough, the tourists hit back by tying and winning the next two games.

With the score tied at 1-1 heading into the penultimate game, a win for the Windies would have seen India fail to win an ODI series at home for the first time since 2015. Fortunately, they managed to put up what their captain Virat Kohli described as a “clinical” performance to stave off that eventuality.

"Definitely back on track,” he said. “We ticked all the boxes, clinical in all three departments. We were put under a bit of pressure in the 3rd ODI, but we bounced back.”

Paradoxically, for Kohli one of the most pleasing things about the performance might have been his own failure with the bat, and the fact that India managed to put together such a strong performance without a big contribution from their captain and best batsman. The identity of the man who stood up in his stead will have been especially heartening, with Ambati Rayudu’s third ODI century suggesting he can be the man to solve India’s troublesome No.4 conundrum.

“Rayudu's taken his opportunity with both hands, and we need to back him till the 2019 World Cup,” said Kohli. “He reads the game well, and he bats with intelligence.”

Rayudu was pipped to the Player of the Match award by India opener Rohit Sharma, who notched his seventh 150+ score in ODIs. “It’s a very clinical performance from us after losing two early wickets,” said Rohit. “A big partnership was the game-changer, and in all four games we've had big partnerships that have allowed us to stay in the game and post big totals. We have understood the importance of them. And once you're set, you need to make it count.”

Rohit also led the way in the field, claiming two slip catches, including one very tough chance low to his left. "I’ve been doing slip catching for a while. I can hear Virat laugh, but I've been catching in the slips for a while now. Important to hold on to them. Catches come to you all the time, but when you're fielding in the slips for Kuldeep, it's not easy off his hand, but I learnt to be ready for his googly.”

The second of those catches reduced Windies to 101/8, and though they struggled to 153, it was still India’s third-biggest victory by runs, and their total was nine runs less than Rohit managed off his own bat. “It's heartening to see us bowl as a unit,” said Rohit. “The pacers were swinging the ball, and the spinners were turning it. This kind of performance was a long time coming, but very happy to see such a dominating performance."

Kohli singled out left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed for special praise. He scythed through Windies’ middle order, ending with superb figures of 3/13 from five overs. “Khaleel is an exciting talent,” said the India captain. “If the pitch has something to offer, he can extract something. He bowled in the right areas; not too full, not too short. I’m happy to see him make the ball talk."

The series will conclude on 1 November at Thiruvananthapuram. Windies can level the series with victory, while India need only to avoid a loss to take the spoils.