Surprising predictions part 4

 Top, India Vs West Indies 1st T20I Highlights: Rohit, Spinners Star As India Crush West Indies By 8 Runs

Rohit Sharma blasted his first century in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) as India crushed West Indies by 68 runs in the opening match of the three-match series at Guyana National Stadium on Sunday (August 4). Rohit, who scored 104 runs off 57 balls with nine fours and five sixes, helped India reach 240/3 in their 20 overs. In reply, West Indies could manage only 172/8 in their 20 overs as India registered their third consecutive win against West Indies by huge margins.

The G meood

It was a great game and the Indian team played really well. The top highlight of the game was when Rohit Sharma hit a huge six. The Indian spinners were also very effective and helped restrict the West Indies batsmen. Overall, it was a convincing victory for India and they will be looking to build on this performance in the next game. Climax (four+ sentences): The Bad: West Indies played some good cricket but with their lower batting order collapsing and their only two good bowlers bowling very few overs, it just wasn't enough. They will need to bounce back in the second match if they want any chance of winning the series. Overall, it was a convincing victory for India and they will be looking to build on this performance in the next game. For now though, let's take a look at five other highlights from today's action. 

Rohit Sharma does it again 

It was a day where most players got starts but not many could go on to convert them into big scores. But one man who did was Mumbai opener Rohit Sharma. He had three 50s going into this game and went past that number with an unbeaten 72 off 53 balls that included four fours and three sixes - including the first delivery he faced! He once again showed his ability to score big when it mattered most as he has done throughout his career and has been instrumental in India’s recent resurgence against Australia and New Zealand over the last year or so. 

Bowling woes bring rain? India have been blessed with plenty of international-quality fast bowlers in recent years and barring the odd injury here and there, have managed to find enough space for all of them. However, on Sunday morning even they must have felt like they would have liked more overs under their belt. Hardik Pandya started brilliantly before conceding 12 runs off 3 overs but Mohit Sharma couldn't get anyone out after bowling 2 deliveries while Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled 4 consecutive dot balls before coming back for 2 more dots as India lost control after taking a wicket early. While such performances might be easily brushed aside during limited-overs formats, these are moments which teams sometimes end up regretting during test matches. India have struggled in the longest format ever since MS Dhoni retired and there is no better time than right now to start turning things around. 

At 42 for 3 chasing 168, West Indies seemed favourites to win this game but then India’s quartet of pace bowlers found their range. Mohammad Siraj finished with figures of 6-0-25-2 while Shardul Thakur sent down 5 maiden overs before finishing with figures of 5-0-24-1. With Ravindra Jadeja getting two wickets and India finally having something in reserve, Bumrah ended up doing the job too by picking up 2 crucial wickets. It was a good effort but the Indian bowling attack will have to improve in the next game. 

It was a case of tight bowling and loose batting with West Indies not being able to clear the boundaries often enough and India's bowlers holding their nerve. The result was a low-scoring game that India won thanks to their strong batting performance. 

The Indian innings will be best remembered for Rohit Sharma's blitzkrieg which brought up his century off just 53 balls, which included four fours and three sixes. He came into this game on the back of three successive fifties in ODIs but he raised his level still further with a brilliant performance that kept India on course for victory. He shared a 77-run stand with Manish Pandey, who made 40 off 30 balls before he was caught on the boundary trying to loft a ball that was marginally short. This was followed by Rohit bringing up his fifth ODI hundred with a six off Holder and his sixth with another six that sealed the game for India. 

The West Indies openers were dealt with quickly and Devendra Bishoo dropped Virat Kohli in the third over. That apart, though, it was the spinners that starred for India today. Kedar Jadhav picked up 2 wickets and Yuzvendra Chahal took 2 more but their star turn was Kuldeep Yadav.

The Bad

Despite the lopsided scoreline, there were a few areas of concern for India. The top-order didn't fire with skipper Rohit Sharma (0) and KL Rahul (4) both falling cheaply. Rishabh Pant continued his struggles with the bat, making just 15 off 20 balls before he was dismissed. The good (seven sentences): However, there were plenty of positives for India as well. Shreyas Iyer was in fine form, scoring a brilliant 58 off 29 balls. He was well supported by Manish Pandey who made 46 off 36 balls. The spinners were also very impressive with Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav picking up three wickets apiece. They put the pressure on from the start, taking two quick wickets in the first five overs. And they were backed up by Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja who took two more each at crucial times. West Indies never really got going after those early losses. With rain forecast, it's hard to see how the visitors can get their campaign back on track. If they do somehow manage to win their next game against Afghanistan then they will qualify for the Super Sixes. That's a tough ask but stranger things have happened. Their batting has been so inconsistent that it would be no surprise if they pulled something out of the bag. But right now, this Indian team looks too strong to beat. After setting up the perfect platform with an eight-wicket victory, we shouldn't be surprised if they go all the way. Given the ease with which they overcame their opponents, it's not unreasonable to expect them to find life much tougher when facing England or Australia. There is still some work to do but in terms of progress since losing the ICC Champions Trophy final last year, Virat Kohli's men are ahead of schedule. It's tempting to dismiss the whole tournament as inconsequential given that the World Cup is only six months away. But while they may not carry the same weight, international tournaments provide opportunities to experiment and build confidence. Kohli has shown great faith in some relatively inexperienced players during this series, backing them to the hilt. His faith is repaid every time one of them delivers. Another big plus for India was the return to form of Jasprit Bumrah. The fast bowler had a couple of wickets to his name and looked in the kind of form that makes him such a threat. His speed is always a challenge for batsmen, as they try to adjust their length accordingly. The Bad: Despite the lopsided scoreline, there were a few areas of concern for India. The top-order didn't fire with skipper Rohit Sharma (0) and KL Rahul (4) both falling cheaply. Rishabh Pant continued his struggles with the bat, making just 15 off 20 balls before he was dismissed. The good (six+ sentences): However, there were plenty of positives for India as well. Shreyas Iyer was in fine form, scoring a brilliant 58 off 29 balls. He was well supported by Manish Pandey who made 46 off 36 balls. The spinners were also very impressive with Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav picking up three wickets apiece. They put the pressure on from the start, taking two quick wickets in the first five overs. And they were backed up by Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja who took two more each at crucial times. West Indies never really got going after those early losses. With rain forecast, it's hard to see how the visitors can get their campaign back on track. If they do somehow manage to win their next game against Afghanistan then they will qualify for the Super Sixes. That's a tough ask but stranger things have happened. Their batting has been so inconsistent that it would be no surprise if they pulled something out of the bag. But right now, this Indian team looks too strong to beat. 

The top-order didn't fire with skipper Rohit Sharma (0) and KL Rahul (4) both falling cheaply. Rishabh Pant continued his struggles with the bat, making just 15 off 20 balls before he was dismissed. 

However, there were plenty of positives for India as well. Shreyas Iyer was in fine form, scoring a brilliant 58 off 29 balls. He was well supported by Manish Pandey who made 46 off 36 balls.

The Ugly

Despite the lopsided scoreline, the game was marred by some ugly moments. In the second over of the Indian innings, Virat Kohli was hit on the head by a bouncer from Shannon Gabriel. The Indian captain was down on the ground for a few moments before getting up and continuing his innings. He later said that he was fine and that it was just a glancing blow. There were also appeals for catches behind the wicket in both West Indies innings which were turned down by third umpire Roshan Mahanama. It's disappointing to get two decisions like that in our favour, Jason Holder said after the match. That's what cricket is about - close decisions - but they need to go our way. Holder then added: We're not happy with how we've played but we're not here to make excuses. In contrast, Kohli praised the performance of his bowlers and batsmen alike, crediting their success to being patient and sticking to plans. The first half of this year has been great for us, he said at the post-match presentation ceremony. We have a pretty settled team now so I am really looking forward to all these challenges ahead. We are ready for the series against Australia as well, we had them under pressure in the ODI series and hopefully, can continue that form. 

When asked about Yuvraj Singh's exclusion from the side, Kohli maintained that every player should be given opportunities to prove themselves when given chances. He felt bad for Yuvi because he wanted him to do well too but injuries weren't helping him either. But whoever is there will be trying their best as always! 

It was important to keep going and win one-day matches while still working hard towards bigger goals such as World Cup 2020, Rohit Sharma said when asked about his thoughts on India clinching number one spot in ODIs again recently.He credited part of their dominance to an increase in self-belief following victories overseas. Our strength has been shown during overseas tours where the quality of opposition is tough, but we managed to play out different situations, come back into games and won those crucial games. While all eyes may be on next week's big clash against England at home, Rohit reminded people that they would remain focussed even if they don't manage to achieve something else along the way - To take it one game at a time. If you think too far ahead then you might falter or miss something right in front of you. India's confidence is sky-high and they'll be aiming to maintain that momentum in the three T20s and five ODIs that follow the West Indies tour. With Jasprit Bumrah rested for the last game, India look set to persist with the 4-pronged pace attack for their limited overs matches. It seems that their experimentation with off-spin from both sides and Yuzvendra Chahal's terrific showing with the ball were more than enough to convince Kohli. India's fast bowling stocks looked depleted at the start of the West Indies series but with a rejuvenated Ishant Sharma, who was among the wickets on Wednesday, and Shardul Thakur providing support for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami, it is not surprising that India went on to dominate proceedings. 

Rohit shone yet again with a classy 67 off 43 balls. He was aided by KL Rahul's brilliant 44 off 33 balls as well as Ravindra Jadeja (28*) who carried his bat through. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal combined to pick up 3/21, with the latter picking up 2/14. The middle order batting continues to be India's weakness, with no one other than Rohit and Rahul putting up any real fight. MS Dhoni tried valiantly with 35* off 36 balls but failed to convert that into the much-needed impetus for India. A belligerent Sunil Narine hit 40* off just 18 deliveries to show that West Indies had some firepower left despite being down for long periods.

At the end of the day

It was a comprehensive victory for India as they outclassed the West Indies in all departments to win by 68 runs. Rohit Sharma was the star of the show with his brilliant century while the spinners did a great job in restricting the flow of runs. This was a much-needed win for India and will give them a lot of confidence going into the rest of the series. With the batting order firing on all cylinders and the bowlers doing a good job ttoo.it is hard to see how West Indies can come back from this loss. On the other hand, India need to consolidate this performance and keep playing like this if they want to be contenders for the World Cup. A defeat here would have been disastrous but things are looking up after this terrific showing. There is still some work to do but we are now seeing glimpses of what a strong team can do and it is exciting to watch. The balance between bat and ball that we were looking for has finally arrived and hopefully, the momentum carries forward into the next game! We’ll talk about it more when we get there. For now, though, let’s take a look at our Top three moments of the match. First up is a special one for you fast bowling fans. Mohammed Shami just dismissed Kieran Powell off his very first delivery. It was so quick that Powell didn't even realise he had lost his wicket until he got back to the pavilion! Next, Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets off consecutive deliveries in his first over. He did well to exploit the lack of footwork from Marlon Samuels and then showed nerves of steel by coming back later in the innings to dismiss him again (and get another four!). That also became Kuldeep's maiden five-wicket haul which just goes to show you how important he has become to this Indian team lately. Finally, MS Dhoni finished off the game with a run-out that saw Keemo Paul throw away his stumps on purpose. Coming to think of it, maybe he wasn't completely sure whether he was in or not? Either way, these are my three top moments from today's action! What were yours? Let us know your thoughts below and I'll catch you tomorrow with more updates from WI vs IND 2nd T20I! 

How to start a new paragraph. Another day, another trip to the ground! This time it was for the second T20 International against West Indies and India looked to build on their impressive performance in the ODIs. Once again, West Indies started well and got a fifty partnership under their belt. However, once this wicket fell, India pulled things back with an excellent spell from Kuldeep Yadav who removed Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis in his opening two overs! While this was happening, Rohit Sharma was doing his thing with an 82* at the other end which meant West Indies never really recovered from their early hiccups. Eventually they folded up pretty quickly to give India a comfortable win under lights in Guwahati. India won by 68 runs and it was the first T20I win for Rohit Sharma in a long time. He hit yet another hundred and his composure was admirable. His calmness at the crease helped India avoid any panic situations, something that has plagued their cricket in recent times. And with all the batsmen chipping in, it made for a clinical performance from India. This win is big for India as they head into the rest of this three-match series on a high note! West Indies played decently but ultimately failed to put up enough resistance and just weren't able to get past that hundred-run mark on either side of the game. So, congratulations to Rohit Sharma on his ton and we hope he continues this form!

A bit about me (your name)

I'm a big fan of cricket, and I was really excited to watch the first T20I between India and the West Indies. I was not disappointed! India absolutely crushed the West Indies by 68 runs. Rohit Sharma and the Indian spinners were the stars of the show. It was an incredible performance by the Indian team, and I can't wait to see more cricket this summer! 

Before we dive into my recap of today's game, let's get into some numbers and records that are in play as we head towards our main event—the World Cup. The last time these two teams played each other was in 2016 at Mirpur when India beat West Indies by 12 runs. The score today? India beat them by eight runs again! That’s enough stats; it’s time for me to share my thoughts on today’s game with you... The Indians got off to a great start. They had West Indies all out within 16 overs, but it took them over 40 overs to win the match. The Indians definitely looked like they could have batted better than they did after securing their victory so early in the game. Nonetheless, there is no denying how dominant they were today with bat and ball - especially during their chase. 

In terms of players from both sides who stood out during the game, I'd say that one of India's most impressive performers was Manish Pandey (124*). He batted aggressively against leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo who bowled well but conceded 16 runs from his four overs. Pandey also dismissed Shimron Hetmyer for 44 runs, caught by KL Rahul. For the West Indies, Carlos Brathwaite gave the visitors something to cheer about after smashing a 29-ball 54*. However, he missed out on being Man of the Match because he wasn't involved in any dismissals. Evin Lewis put up a good fight too as he scored 43*, including three sixes and five fours before getting run out by Shikhar Dhawan. Darren Bravo's 20* was overshadowed by his dismissal - bowled by Shardul Thakur. Thakur finished with figures of 3/17 from 4 overs, giving him his third wicket in the format. Outstanding performances from the spinner has been a theme for India throughout the series. Krunal Pandya (2/14) did just that today as he removed Andre Russell and Sunil Narine to add to his figures. On top of those excellent efforts, Yuzvendra Chahal went 2/11 off 3 overs, conceding just 22 runs while picking up both wickets of Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran - which left only 6 outs remaining for him to take if needed!

Thanks for reading this blog

I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. I hope you found it informative and helpful. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thanks again for reading! Please leave a comment below or tweet at me if you think this post is helpful. You can also like or share on Facebook if you want to help out. And don't forget to subscribe to get updates in your inbox. I was very impressed with how Ashwin bowled, he had great control over his line and length. He took 4 wickets in 4 overs which was an amazing achievement. Apart from him, Jadeja also bowled beautifully with no pressure and maintained tight lines to clean up the tail enders of WI batsmen quickly. 

He bowled 3 overs without giving away a single run so that was a tremendous achievement by him as well. Ajinkya Rahane who batted at number four today proved to be an excellent player for the team and contributed 38 runs off 25 balls. His innings gave some stability to our batting order when Virat Kohli got out early. We lost another two wickets after Kohli's dismissal but soon Manish Pandey and Ambati Rayudu bailed us out with a good partnership of 41 runs before Rayudu got dismissed by Krishmar Santokie bowling round-the-wicket. Afterward Pandey scored another 12 runs off 7 balls as he smashed 2 sixes off Krishmar Santokie's bowling before getting caught by Jason Mohammed off Sheldon Cottrell's delivery. The final score was 151/5 from 20 overs. For WI, Kieron Pollard top scored with 37 runs off just 24 balls which included 3 sixes and 4 fours before getting stumped by Dhoni of Vinay Kumar's delivery. The next best scorer for them was Shimron Hetmyer who made 29 runs off 18 balls (1x4). There were few other contributors too but they couldn't keep pace against India's strong spin attack led by Ashwin and Jadeja. They will now travel to Guyana where they will take on WI again in the second match of the series on July 11th, 2017