After making three changes to his side for the third Test against the West Indies, Kohli promoted himself up the order and failed twice when coming in at number three during India’s series clinching 237-run victory in St Lucia. Ashwin’s promotion has possibly played the most defining part — scoring centuries in both Tests India have won.
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India had not won or drawn a series outside the sub-continent since defeating West Indies in the Caribbean in 2011. Fellow fast bowler Ishant (2/30) and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2/20) also bowled well.
The historic moment came when Shanon Gabriel’s (11) slog was easily pouched by Bhuvneshwar at deep mid-wicket off Jadeja’s bowling.
India will face West Indies in the fourth and final Test of the series on August 18 at the Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain.
“And we can play five bowlers”.
Set an improbable 346 to win after India declared about 45 minutes into the morning session, West Indies’ capitulation was as meek as it was swift, as they slumped to 108 all out on the stroke of the scheduled tea interval at the Darren Sammy National Stadium. Rahane 51, Sharma 41.
West Indies captain Jason Holder had few complaints about the bowling but acknowledged major problems with his team’s batting.
While the former tied down the batsmen with some tight swing, the latter used pace to force them back.
Marlon Samuels (39) and Jermaine Blackwood (20) added 59 runs for the undefeated fourth wicket in an extended morning session as rain stayed away today even as wet outfield prevented an early start.
Johnson was held at short-leg off Shami for a five-ball duck, while Brathwaite made only four before falling lbw to Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-13). There was a moment of contention though, when television replays seemed to suggest that Sharma had delivered a no-ball although television official Gregory Brathwaite ruled the effort to be legitimate.
Promoted due to the omission of Cheteshwar Pujara and to accommodate Rohit Sharma batting at five, Kohli managed scores of three and four against the West Indies as his poor record when batting in that position in Test cricket continued. Interestingly, neither did Llong use a referral nor did the third umpire intervene.
And fellow paceman Miguel Cummins, in his second test, claimed 3-54, including the wicket of Ashwin, caught fending a short ball to backward point.
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Ashwin (1) then became his 6th dismissal and the last batsman out for India, as skipper Virat Kohli decided that it was time to bowl.
