India have reached the top of the ICC T20I team rankings after whitewashing West Indies in the three-match series. On Sunday, the Rohit Sharma-led Team India registered a comprehensive win over Kieron Pollard & Co. in the third and final T20I.
The victory helped India catapult England at the top of the T20I team rankings, with Rohit’s men now matching the top rating of 269.
India beat West Indies by 17 runs in the third and final T20 to complete a 3-0 series clean sweep. Suryakumar Yadav top-scored with 65 off 31 balls to fire India to 184 for five in 20 overs.
In response, West Indies ended at 167 for nine after another sublime knock from Nicholas Pooran (61 off 47) went in vain.
Brief Scores: India: 184 for 5 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 65, Venkatesh Iyer 35 not out; Roston Chase 1/23). West Indies: 167 for 9 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 61; Harshal Patel 3/22).
The visitors’ lost Kyle Mayers early as Deepak Chahar found the outside edge. He then dismissed Shai Hope (8) in the next over before walking off the field due to an injury. Rovman Powell and Nicholas Pooran began by dealing in boundaries despite losing two quick wickets. But India fought back quickly, as Harshal Patel and Venkatesh Iyer picked up two wickets each in quick succession. But Pooran kept his side alive by hitting another 50. Romario Shepherd joined the onslaught to give Pooran good company, who fell for 61 by Thakur.
Harshal and Thakur bagged another as WI ended on 167/9 in 20 overs.
In the first T20, Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer stitched 48 runs for the fifth wicket as India defeated West Indies by six wickets in the first T20I in Kolkata. Suryakumar returned unbeaten on 34(18) while Iyer scored 24(13) as India chased down the 158-run target with seven balls to spare. After inviting West Indies to bat first, the visitors piled 157/7 in 20 overs.
In response, India raced to 50 in the first five overs. Ishan Kishan was slow off the blocks, but he picked up his pace after Rohit Sharma smashed Odean Smith for 22 runs in one over. Their stand came to an end on 64 as Roston Chase got the wicket of Rohit (40 off 19). Following his dismissal, India lost three wickets in quick succession in the form of Virat Kohli, Kishan and Rishabh Pant. However, another impressive show by Suryakumar helped India close the contest comfortably in the end.
In the second T20, India beat West Indies by eight runs to clinch the three-match series in Kolkata.
