Kuldeep, Jadeja run through West Indies in 23 overs
Written by I Dig SportsInnings West Indies 114 (Hope 43, Athanaze 22, Kuldeep 4-6, Jadeja 3-37) vs India
A short and wide Mukesh delivery was slapped straight to backward point, with the bowler celebrating his maiden ODI wicket. The very next over, it was Brandon King's turn to depart, with Thakur rattling his middle stump courtesy a wobble seam delivery that moved sharply back in.
Shimron Hetmyer, playing his first ODI since July 2021, survived a DRS appeal for caught behind first ball but settled in fairly comfortably. He added a 43-run stand with captain Shai Hope for the fourth wicket as the duo continued to tick the scorecard along.
Hope got going by driving Mukesh on the up, before using the extra pace of Umran Malik and collecting back-to-back fours through pulls. Hetmyer was more circumspect in his approach as West Indies reached 87 for 3 after 15 overs, and it seemed smooth sailing.
Unfortunately for the hosts, though, that's where the fun ended. Jadeja's first two overs went for 20, but he soon found his lengths and was rendered near unplayable. Hetmyer got too adventurous in his approach, trying an unwarranted scoop. Jadeja landed a fullish length ball on middle to which Hetmyer got well across only to be bowled behind his legs. Jadeja then had Rovman Powell caught at first slip for 4 before a Virat Kohli special at second slip sent back Romario Shepherd two balls later. The batter went through for an expansive drive seeing the ball up, but didn't quite reach the pitch. The outside edge flew low to the right of Kohli, who plucked a one-handed take.
Kuldeep then didn't waste much time to shine, striking with just his third ball, a wrong'un that spun past Dominic Drakes' inside-edge and caught him plumb in front. Yannic Carriah was the next to depart in a similar manner to Kuldeep as West Indies slipped from 88 for 3 to 107 for 8.
All this while, Hope stood at the other end. He smoked Jadeja for a mammoth six over long off, but became Kuldeep's third victim, when he missed a reverse sweep only to be pinned in front. He did take a review, but replays showed the ball would have clipped the leg stump. Kuldeep then claimed his four-wicket haul with the final wicket of Jayden Seales, finishing with figures of 3-2-6-4. Jadeja, meanwhile claimed 3 for 37 in six overs.