While all eyes were on Rohit Sharma, who could have become the 1st Indian and 3rd overall to hit 400 International sixes last night his early exit from the crease meant that we have to wait a day more to witness that “historic” six that could come in the 2nd T20I at Kanpur.
India take 1-0 lead in 3-match series ?? #INDvWI #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/QcO8G5nUcP
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2019
However, Rohit’s early departure didn’t mean that India had a dull show as captain Virat Kohli and opener K.L. Rahul took the charge against the West Indies bowling line up. Kohli who was struggling in the 1st half of his innings was supported by K.L. Rahul who showed his class with the knock of 62 (of 40 balls) courtesy 5 fours and 4 maximums.
A captain’s knock by @imVkohli as India win the 1st T20I by 6 wickets. #INDvWI #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/osg63znNEn
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2019
After Rahul’s dismissal by Khary Pierre, it was all Kohli’s masterclass who scored his highest T20I score of 94* powering India to 7th straight win against the West Indies with 8 balls to spare.
FIFTY!#TeamIndia opener @klrahul11 brings up his 7th T20I 50 off 37 deliveries.#INDvWI pic.twitter.com/JUp5oIyGFW
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2019
Earlier West Indies power hitters Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, and captain Kieron Pollard took the Indian bowlers on remand as West Indies piled up a massive 207/5 in there allotted 20 Overs.
An eventful Powerplay between #INDvWI ?
— ICC (@ICC) December 6, 2019
West Indies are 66/2, Evin Lewis recently fell for a 17-ball 40 ?
LIVE ➡️ https://t.co/kS09opSjzl pic.twitter.com/XUeos4LR71
??v?#INDvWI Maiden T20I 5️⃣0️⃣ half century to @SHetmyer!??????
Live Scorecard ⬇️https://t.co/O5ERVv51VT pic.twitter.com/HyB32rYPBF— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 6, 2019
Hetmyer ‘s fifty was the attraction of West Indies innings with handy contributions coming from Evin Lewis and Kieron Pollard in top and middle-order respectively. Lewis was looking dangerous as he quickly raised to 40 of 17 balls with 36 out of the total runs coming from boundaries. He was trapped by Washington Sundar in front of wicket leaving West Indies 64/2 in the sixth over.
Records Tumbled
While the most awaited record was missed by Rohit Sharma others made sure that the record keepers are kept busy last night. Kohli equaled the record for most Man of the Match awards in T20I which is held by Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi. Both Kohli and Nabi have won 12 Man of the Match awards apiece in T20Is.
2017: Kesrick Williams gives a send-off to Virat Kohli with a ‘tick in the notebook’ celebration. ?
— SportsAdda (@sportsadda_) December 7, 2019
2019: Kohli smacks Williams all around the park and repeats the same celebration thrice! ?#INDvsWI #ViratKohli #KesrickWilliamspic.twitter.com/HOvebJd23g
K.L. Rahul who scored a brilliant half-century up the order become the 3rd joint fastest to score 1,000 runs in T20I cricket. Rahul became the 7th Indian player to achieve the feat.
MILESTONE ?
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2019
1000 T20I runs for @klrahul11 ??
He is the 7th Indian batsman to achieve this feat. pic.twitter.com/8oCWlpfDYg
The chase of 208 is also the highest successful chase by India in the T20Is bettering there previous best of 207 vs Sri Lanka in Mohali that came a decade ago. West Indies’s Kesrick Williams who was given his style “notebook” sendoff by Kohli also had his share of records last night.
Masterclass innings from Chasing Master…@imVkohli ..
— BANDI SANDEEP (@BandiSandeep10) December 6, 2019
??K I N G K O H L I??..
??Career Best T20I Score(94*)
??Fastest Batsman to score 2500 T20 runs
??Most T20I Fifties(23)
??? India’s Highest chase in T20I???..
?✌️Proud to be fan of “KING KOHLI”#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/6nBOQ1WLpF
Williams set an unpleasing record of conceding the most runs by a West Indian bowler in the T20Is. Williams conceded 60 runs in this 3.4 over long spell which had three extras courtesy 2 no-balls and a wide.
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The two teams would meet again on Sunday for the 2nd of three-match T20I series where India would look to seal the deal while the T20 world champions would aim a comeback.
