Player of the Match
Player of the Match

11.15pm: That brings us to the end of the coverage for this first T20I. The series is still alive, and there's plenty of great cricket to come. Continue tuning in to Cricinfo, we'll bring you all of it. Till then, this is Saurabh Somani, signing off on behalf of Deiva Muthu and Chandan Duorah.

Ravi Bishnoi is the Player of the Match for his 2 for 17 on international debut: The nerves are settled now (smiles). I was feeling very good, it's everyone's dream to play for India and I was feeling good. West Indies is one of the best T20 teams and I got the chance to play against them. I'll try to cut down the wides next match. My strength is my length. (on dew) There wasn't much dew in our innings. I haven't played a match with a lot of dew so far, but it does affect you. We practice for it though. I didn't think I would get Man of the Match in my very first match, it's a dream come true.

Rohit Sharma: It did (get tricky). Should have finished that off. We wanted to be a bit clinical in the end. We're trying to do stuff in the middle didn't work out, but happy with the win. We can take a lot of confidence. Restricting a great unit like that to 157 was a great effort by the bowlers. With the bat we were not clinical, but we can take learning. Bishnoi is a very talented guy, no doubt about it. We see something differnet in him that's why we drafted him in the squad. He can bowl anywhere from the powerplay to the back end of the innings as well, gives us options to rotate other bowlers. Very happy with his first game for India, he's got a very bright future. He's got solid talent. It's just about us now, how we use him. Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out, very hard on him to be out and not making it to the XI, but it's what the team requires. We need that option in the middle, someone who can bowl. It's always nice when you have those kind of competition going on. When the guys who are missing come back it's goign to be very challenging to make the playing XI. But I'm happy with that challenge than not having players. We were very clear with Shreyas, we told him the team wants that option (of an allrounder) going into the World Cup. They are all smart guys, professionals and they understand the team comes first. A lot of things go into deciding the playing XI, the opposition, the conditions, the dimensions of the ground. Yes, sometimes it can be tough for the guys missing out but we are making sure we are giving out a very clear message. Unfortunate but we want to put the team first. (on Ishan's struggles) That is something I've been talking to him for a long time now, from IPL. He played for MI and was batting in the middle, it's not his natural position. We saw in Chennai the pitch was turning, he couldn't get going, but we again, he will know what to do. He was batting with Virat today in the middle (so he can learn). We want to make sure he doesn't go with too much pressure around him.

Kieron Pollard: Good game of cricket overall, getting down to the 19th over was good on the part of the bowlers. If I'm being honest, between overs 6 to 15 we scored too few runs. We were 15-20 runs short but if you take early wickets you can put them under pressure. But Rohit got off quickly at the start. Of course it's an area we can improve (dot balls) but if you try and hit and get out for 90, the conversation will be different. Those 9 overs for 46 runs, if we had another 15-20 in that block there... it's a matter of setting it up properly. We can dissect it till kingdom come but we have to execute. Hopefully come next game, that can happen.

Suryakumar Yadav: Looking at the dew, Rishabh and I were having a word inside the square of the wicket the ball was going really fast. So anything on leg stump or outside off, I was just trying to time it nicely. I like batting anywhere, I'm flexible to bat at any position. I badly wanted to finish the game and I'm really happy to finish the game and stay not out. When he (Venkatesh Iyer) came in, there was a difference of just 8 runs, I told him no need of fancy strokes, just play good shots with good intent. He batted really well, very happy with that. Their spinners bowled beautifully. There was no turn but the ball was stopping a bit and there was a bit of bounce. After 10-12 overs there was heavy dew coming in and difficult for them to grip the ball, so good advantage for us.

10.48pm: A few iffy moments but eventually, a chase comfortably done by India. They've gone 1-0 up in this T20I series, and West Indies are still searching for their first win on tour. The bowlers set it up by tying down the West Indies' big hitters, and then the batters achieved the chase. Set up by Rohit's blitz at the start, and helmed by Suryakumar's controlled explosiveness at the finish. Both Kohli and Pant were upset by the shots that got them out. Kohli in particular looked very much in control before getting out. A fantastic debut for Ravi Bishnoi, and Yuzvendra Chahal bowled with great skill too. The pacers had their moments, but the spinners' control really put the brakes on West Indies' power-hitters.

18.5
6
Allen to Iyer, SIX, he's cleared midwicket and brought up victory with a six. Full ball, he swings like a golf shot, and a leaping deep midwicket can't get even fingertips to it, as the ball goes just over.
18.4
1
Allen to Yadav, 1 run, goes across and whips this off his pads through midwicket
18.3
4
Allen to Yadav, FOUR, tossed up outside off and Suryakumar is just so good when he's driving spinners.Uses wrists to open the bat face and place the drive through point
18.2
1
Allen to Iyer, 1 run, dances down the track, makes it a full toss, thumped to long-on. Didn't time it
18.1
1
Allen to Yadav, 1 run, full on off, makes room and opens the bat face to drive to deep point

Pollard has gone to Fabian.

Gautam C: "SKY is building up a VIRATesque body of work in the middle order….not quite there yet but potential is showing "

END OF OVER:
18 | 10 Runs | IND: 149/4 (9 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.27, RRR: 4.50)

  • Venkatesh Iyer17 (11b)
  • Suryakumar Yadav28 (15b)
  • Romario Shepherd3-0-24-0
  • Sheldon Cottrell4-0-35-1
17.6
4
Shepherd to Iyer, FOUR, full toss, stays still and swats it straight back over the bowler with a horizontal bat for a boundary. India very comfortable now
17.5
1
Shepherd to Yadav, 1 run, full toss, on the thigh pad, wanted to flick it, gets a leading edge that bounces to third man in the circle. In fact it came off the back of the bat and then smacked his hand. Physio having a look at it. He's fine.
17.4
1
Shepherd to Iyer, 1 run, short ball into him, looks to pull, gets a bottom edge that rolls towards short fine leg
17.3
2
Shepherd to Iyer, 2 runs, full outside off, and he walks into the cover drive, times it beautifully. Fabian on the sweeper cover boundary slides and stops it to his left
17.2
1
Shepherd to Yadav, 1 run, back of a length outside off, flat-batted through midwicket. He wants two but there's only one there
17.1
1
Shepherd to Iyer, 1 run, fuller, thumped to long-on

Two Surya shots and only 19 off 18. Romario to bowl, which means he'll get two overs and Odean will probably get the other.

END OF OVER:
17 | 13 Runs | IND: 139/4 (19 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.17, RRR: 6.33)

  • Suryakumar Yadav26 (13b)
  • Venkatesh Iyer9 (7b)
  • Sheldon Cottrell4-0-35-1
  • Romario Shepherd2-0-14-0
16.6
6
Cottrell to Yadav, SIX, stunning shot. Slower bouncer on leg stump, he got inside the line and waited, and then smacked a pull almost over the keeper, but just a bit more fine. Audacious and skillful

James : "Considering the bowlers are a bit hampered by the dew, this has been an excellent effort, dragging India back after Rohit's flying start. "

16.5
4
Cottrell to Yadav, FOUR, crashed through cover. Too full outside off, stands tall and laces a drive through cover
16.4
1
Cottrell to Iyer, 1 run, tries to scoop it over fine leg, doesn't get hold of it, but the ball goes off the high part of the bat and over the keeper, but short of the fine leg fielder in the circle
16.3
1
Cottrell to Yadav, 1 run, length ball, pace off, whipped to long-on
16.2
1
Cottrell to Iyer, 1 run, length ball on the pads, flicked to deep square leg

West Indies in India 2021-22 News

India 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st64RG SharmaIshan Kishan
2nd29V KohliIshan Kishan
3rd2V KohliRR Pant
4th19SA YadavRR Pant
5th48SA YadavVR Iyer