India, considered a force to reckon with in ODIs, what with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma enjoying yet another run-filled year and the bowling bolstered manifold with the recent form of Deepak Chahar, were humbled by the West Indies in the first ODI.
Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope slammed contrasting yet typical centuries on a sluggish and tough Chepauk wicket. A 287-run chase was expected to be a difficult chase on that pitch, and the problems were compounded when Chahar picked the early wicket of opener, Sunil Ambris.
However, Hetmyer and Hope joined hands and the left-right combination worked wonders for the West Indies as Hope’s naturally sheet anchor nature played right into their hands.
Read | Fantasy Focus: Hetmyer and Kohli to go toe-to-toe this week for glory
Hetmyer took the attack to India, gauging the pitch really well and regularly finding the ropes, and also sending the leather over it. He seemed to be batting on a different wicket, sparing no bowler, and was especially severe on Ravindra Jadeja,
The Indian bowlers for once seemed out of sync, bowling half-trackers and attempting to bounce him out without putting in an effort, which meant that the ball sat up nicely to be hit.
In the end, it turned out to be a tremendous eight-wicket win with Nicolas Pooran giving Hope enough of the strike to complete his century late on.
India will be gunning for revenge, and will no doubt come at West Indies with a renewed energy.
Here are all the relevant details you need to catch it live:
When: The match starts at 1.30pm IST, and toss will be held at 1.00pm IST
Where: Star Sports 1/1 HD, Star Sports 2/2 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi/1 Hindi HD, Star Sports Select 1/1 HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, Star Sports 1 Kannada, Star Sports 1 Bangla,
Live-stream: Hotstar
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Arun Sankar
