West Indies captain Shai Hope delivered a masterclass in chase batting, scoring an unbeaten 162 to lead his team to a historic victory over India in the third one-day international in Chandigarh. The win marked the highest successful run chase in West Indies ODI history, surpassing their previous best.
Playing on Saturday, the Caribbean side reached 352-5 with 10 balls to spare, securing a five-wicket triumph after India posted 351-7, powered by Lokesh Rahul’s unbeaten 129. The result gave West Indies their first series win against India since 2023, despite India having already clinched the three-match series with dominant eight-wicket victories in the first two games at Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati.
Hope’s heroics came under dramatic circumstances. He promoted himself to the opening position after fellow wicketkeeper Jewel Andrew suffered a finger injury while taking a catch and required hospital treatment. After standing behind the stumps for the entire 50 overs in humid conditions, Hope returned to bat with determination. He described feeling a groin strain but insisted on pushing through to the end.
“Felt something around the groin area but wanted to fight through till the end,” Hope said after hitting the winning boundary. His innings, his second consecutive century of the series and his 21st ODI hundred, came off 143 balls and included 17 fours and three sixes. It was also his second-highest score in the format.
Amir Jangoo contributed a valuable 67 off 56 balls, while Keemo Paul added 44 off 35. Hope and Jangoo shared a crucial 109-run partnership for the second wicket, dismantling an Indian bowling attack that had recalled Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Reddy, and introduced debutant pacer Anshul Kamboj, who finished without a wicket.
“Chasing is always a lot easier in India, especially with the dew,” Hope noted. “Glad we got over the line.”
After Jangoo was run out in the 21st over, Sherfane Rutherford (24) helped maintain momentum with a 56-run stand for the third wicket alongside Hope. Paul added another significant partnership of 65 runs off 61 balls before being dismissed in the 41st over, caught by Gurnoor Brar. Hope then accelerated rapidly, scoring 62 runs from the final 39 balls he faced, including seven fours and two sixes.
India faced a late setback as they were penalized for a slow over rate during the last four overs, forcing them to field an extra infielder. This allowed Hope and Gudakesh Motie (19 not out) to add 62 runs for the sixth wicket off just 29 balls to seal the historic win.
Earlier, India lost early blows as captain Shubman Gill fell for a duck, caught behind off Jayden Seales, followed immediately by Virat Kohli, who was bowled for a golden duck by the same bowler. Only 28 runs were scored in the first 10 overs before Rohit Sharma and Rahul stabilized the innings.
Sharma played a resilient knock of 92 off 85 balls, adding 137 runs for the third wicket with Ruturaj Gaikwad. However, he was denied a second successive century of the series when he was caught off Keemo Paul in the 25th over. Gaikwad fell four overs later for 57 off 69 balls, also to Seales.
Rahul then took charge, smashing six sixes and ten fours in his match-defining 129 not out off 87 balls. He reached his half-century off 41 balls and his second fifty of the innings off just 39 deliveries, finding strong support from Naman Dhir and Brar. The teams will now shift formats, beginning a five-match Twenty20 series in Lucknow on Tuesday.
Great win, but India already took the series. Does this record chase actually matter in the long run?
Shai Hope is a warrior! Promoting himself after an injury and hitting 162? That’s pure heart.