India’s fielding prowess was on full display in the first ODI against West Indies, with exceptional catches and overall brilliance in the field. Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli stood out with their fielding efforts, but it was Kohli’s stunning one-handed catch that stole the show.

Romario Shepherd attempted to drive Jadeja’s delivery but ended up edging it towards the slips, where Kohli dived to his right and managed to pluck the ball out of thin air, dismissing Shepherd and securing the sixth wicket for India. In contrast, the West Indies’ batting performance left much to be desired. Led by Shai Hope, they struggled to put up a competitive show with the bat and failed to secure qualification for the ODI World Cup.

The home team was hopeful of a comeback against India on their home turf, but their openers, Brandon King and Kyle Mayers, departed cheaply.  Even debutant Mukesh Kumar managed to dismiss Alick Athanaze, who seemed well set in the middle but couldn’t capitalize on the start.

Although Hope showed promise, the lack of support from other batters piled on the pressure for the West Indies side. Batsmen like Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell also failed to leave a mark, contributing to their team’s low total.

King Grab 🦀@imVkohli pulls off a stunner 😱#INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/ozvuxgFTlm

— FanCode (@FanCode) July 27, 2023

Meanwhile, India’s spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc, claiming seven wickets between them to restrict West Indies to a mere 114 runs in 23 overs. Jadeja bowled exceptionally well, taking three wickets for 37 runs in six overs, while Yadav wrapped up the tail, picking up four wickets for a remarkable six runs in three overs, with two maidens.

India’s captain Rohit Sharma wisely utilized all six bowling options at his disposal during the first innings, showcasing India’s depth and versatility in the bowling department, a positive sign leading up to the upcoming ODI World Cup, set to begin on October 5.