India crush West Indies in 3rd ODI to sweep series

India have crushed West Indies with a 96-run victory in the third one-day international to sweep the series 3-0 and gave Rohit Sharma, their new white-ball captain, an impressive start.

Shreyas Iyer scored 80 runs off 111 balls and Rishabh Pant hit a quicker 56 off 54 to propel India to 265 all out after the hosts won the toss and chose to bat first.

In reply, West Indies were bowled out for 169 in 37.1 overs at Ahmedabad.

India made a poor start by losing both Sharma (13) and Virat Kohli (0) in the fourth over. Alzarri Joseph (2-54) dismissed both batters in the space of three deliveries. Sharma was clean bowled while Kohli was caught behind for a two-ball duck.

It marked a disappointing series for the former captain and batting great. Kohli hasn’t scored an international hundred since November 2019. He had scores of 8, 18 and 0 in three innings in this series.

Odean Smith (1-36) dismissed Shikhar Dhawan to reduce India to 42-3 in 9.3 overs.

But Iyer and Pant then came together for the fourth wicket and added 110 runs. They started slowly and rebuilt the innings with purpose.

READ MORE: Why the Pakistan-India match on Sunday is more than just cricket

Iyer hit nine fours, while Pant hit six fours as well as a six.

Pant reached his fifth ODI half-century off 47 balls, while Iyer scored his ninth half-century off 74 deliveries.

“I am flexible to bat at any number. But given the current situation, four is a good number," Iyer said. "Today I had to play off the new ball ... There’s a rhythm you have to set to your innings.”

With the middle order clicking for a change, India looked set for a near-300 score. But Pant and Suryakumar Yadav (6) were dismissed in quick succession as India slid to 164-5 in 32.3 overs.

Hayden Walsh took 2-59 as he dismissed both Pant and Iyer.

Washington Sundar (33) and Deepak Chahar (38) added a quick-fire 53 runs off 51 balls for the seventh wicket. Jason Holder (4-34) mopped up the lower order.

'Fantastic' bowling

In reply, West Indies’ batting collapsed for a third straight time. The visitors were reduced to 82-7 in 18.3 overs.

The top order had been dismissed with the score at only 25-3 in five overs as India inflicted early blows with pace.

Deepak Chahar (2-41) struck twice in the fifth over to remove Brandon King (14) and Shamarh Brooks (0).

Prasidh Krishna (3-27) then dismissed Darren Bravo (19) who added 43 runs with Nicholas Pooran (34). Krishna also removed Holder (6).

READ MORE: Afridi leads Pakistan's domination of ICC cricket awards

Returning spinner Kuldeep Yadav took 2-51 as the West Indies’ chase ran out of steam despite resistance at the end of the innings.

Smith (36) threw his bat around to push the score past 100. He hit three fours and three sixes in his 18-ball stay. Joseph (29) and Walsh (13) added 47 runs for the ninth wicket.

Mohammed Siraj took 3-29.

India had already won the first two ODIs at the same venue – the first ODI by six wickets with 132 balls to spare, and the second match by 44 runs.

It is India's 11th consecutive bilateral ODI series win against West Indies since 2007.

West Indies skipper Pooran praised his bowlers.

“The way we bowled in the series was wonderful. The way the guys bowled in the last two games was fantastic," Pooran said. "We have a lot of work to do in ODI cricket (in batting). We have a lot of work to put in in the longer formats.”

The two teams will now travel to Kolkata to play a three-match T20 series at Eden Gardens, starting February 16.