Rayudu, Khaleel India’s biggest gains from Windies ODIs, feel Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri

The fifth and final game of the ODI series between India and Windies proved to be a complete anti-climax as the visitors were defeated by 9 wickets in a one-sided affair. Team India won the five-match series 3-1 with the second match in Vizag ending in a tie. The hosts have now won the Test and ODI series and will meet the Caribbeans in a three-game T20I series next.

What were the positives that India gained from the just concluded series? There were some fantastic batting performances as the Indians slammed six hundreds. Captain Virat Kohli hit three centuries on the trot while his deputy Rohit Sharma hit two 150-plus knocks. They also produced some good bowling spells, especially in the last two games.

Rayudu one among India’s centurions in the series

According to Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri, however, it was Ambati Rayudu’s batting at No.4 and left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed’s show with the ball that count as the home side’s two biggest gains from the series. Rayudu, who has returned to the Indian side after a while, was one of India’s three centurions and scored 217 runs in four games. Khaleel, the 20-year-old pacer who made his international debut in the Asia Cup last month, took seven wickets in four matches in the series.

“Two areas I can think of are for third seamer – Khaleel has been outstanding. God forbid anything happens to Bhuvi or Bumrah, good to have Khaleel who can come in and take wickets. Rayudu has also taken responsibility at No.4. Those two areas we were looking at (prior to the series). And those two have been addressed,” a satisfied Kohli said at the ceremony after the game.

Shastri, on the other hand, was especially impressed with 33-year-old Rayudu, saying the batsman handled the pressure of comeback “really well”. He was also happy with Khaleel but wanted him to add more to his speed to become more effective.

The head coach said Team India was back on the track after winning their sixth successive ODI series at home. This was also their eighth consecutive ODI series win over the Windies and the fifth straight victory over the latter at home since 2002 when the Caribbeans last won a limited-overs series in India.

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