GUWAHATI , OCT 21,
Skipper Virat Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma conjured up breathtaking centuries as India’s ruthless domination over the West Indies continued with a facile eight-wicket win in the first One-day International, here on Sunday. Making mockery of what looked like a stiff 323-run target, the home team cantered to the win with 7.5 overs to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Kohli pounded the Caribbean bowlers with 21 fours and two sixes to raise his 36th ODI century and now needs just 81 runs to join the elite club of cricketers who have amassed 10,000 runs in the One-day format. After early departure of Shikhar Dhawan (4), Kohli raised a massive 246-run stand for the second wicket with Rohit, who remained unbeaten on 152.
It was Rohit’s 20th ODI hundred which came off 117 balls with 15 fours and eight sixes.
While Kohli and Rohit plundered boundaries to entertain the packed stadium, it painted a sorry picture of the West Indies attack, which once was intimidating for any batting line up in the world.
The only high point for the West Indies while defending their total was 21-year-old newcomer Oshane Thomas’ raw pace up front.
Playing his first ODI in more than three months, Kohli was unstoppable. It seemed another routine affair for Kohli as he also got past the milestone of 2000 International runs in the calendar year.
