India are closing in on a one-day international series victory over West Indies following their 93-run triumph in Friday’s third 50-over clash in Antigua.
The Men in Blue just need one more win from the final two matches, or simply to avoid defeat in the fourth and fifth ODIs, to wrap up the series before a solitary T20I clash between the two sides.
Here, we look at five things we learned from the third ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
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The Indian wicket-keeper batsman has divided opinion lately with some pundits arguing that his time in the international arena may well be coming to an end and India should start looking to the future, with Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings.
Dhoni, though, simply answered his critics in the best way possible with a knock of 78 not out off 79 deliveries to take India to a competitive score.
When Dhoni arrived at the crease after the fall of Yuvraj Singh’s wicket in the 27th over, India were labouring, stuttering on 100-3 and a run-rate of less than four an over.
Not just affecting a quick stumping, MS Dhoni does know how to get away as well. (via Sony Six) #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/BKzA1zPhAL
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) July 1, 2017
The veteran may have started off slow and steady but he built a 70-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane, before the opener fell in the 43rd over. That was the signal for Dhoni to open the floodgates and he took the game to the West Indian bowlers alongside Kedar Jadhav.
Indeed, 101 runs were plundered in the final 10 overs of the innings as Dhoni proved why he is the best finisher India have at their disposal, let alone one of the best the game has ever seen.
Stats-wise, he is now nearing 10,000 runs in ODI cricket with an average of 51.31 and overall strike rate edging close to 90 from 294 games. Statistics do not always tell the entire story but these numbers surely do.
Cruise control: Dhoni carried India to a par total.
Yuvraj Singh is a fighter; there is no doubt about that.
To return to professional cricket let alone represent your nation after fighting a life-threatening cancer is testament to the resilience of the swashbuckling left-hander.
In his prime, the stylish batsman sparked fear into opposition bowlers all around the world – sending balls flying all over the park with his signature high back lift.
One only has to ask Stuart Broad about how good Yuvraj is. However, aged 35 years and 201 days, Yuvraj is of course closer to the end of a glittering career than the start.
While Dhoni is 35, there is a huge gap in the fitness levels of both the Indian stalwarts.
Dhoni has looked after his body very well and is one of the quickest between the wickets while his glove work is still of the highest-order.
Yuvraj on the other hand is not as agile as he once was. No longer is he the flying fielder at point taking unbelievable catches and executing near impossible run outs nor is he fit enough to throw down 10 overs of his effective slow left-arm.
This means that he is now mainly in the side as a specialist number four batsman.
On Friday, Yuvraj was batting on 28 when Devendra Bishoo had an appeal for LBW turned down.
Bishoo 2 Yuvraj Last Night V Shadab 2 Yuvraj CT17 Final. Given Not Out,Reviewed,Pad before bat, Wickets hitting & Decision Over Turned. pic.twitter.com/pbjKH9wm4s
— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoorze) July 1, 2017
The West Indies chose not to review though the ball tracking later showed that it would have hit middle stump.
Yuvraj failed to make the most of this lifeline and succumbed LBW to the same bowler, later on 39, after a successful review by the hosts.
With the 2019 World Cup very much in the thoughts for captain Virat Kohli, India surely have to look to blood a new player in Yuvraj’s position sooner rather than later.
The time to move on is now.
Struggling for form: Yuvraj.
Chinaman bowling, a.ka. left-arm wrist spin, is unorthodox and as rare as it gets in cricket. But, when a bowler with that ability does come along it sure does make people stand up and notice.
While Brad Hogg might still be mesmerizing T20 leagues around the world at the age of 46, in Kuldeep Yadav, Indian cricket, and for that matter the world game, may have just found its new Chinaman flag-bearer for the next decade or so.
After a memorable Test debut against Australia recently, the 22-year-old made his ODI bow in the first match of this incumbent series and has had an instant impact.
Backing up the three wickets he took in the second ODI with another three on Friday, Yadav cleaned up Roston Chase with a beauty of a googly that bamboozled the batsman, causing him to play down the wrong line and see his off stump shattered.
He would later collect the scalps of Jason Mohammed and Rovman Powell to finish with figures of 3-41 from his 10 overs.
India have unearthed a gem in Kuldeep Yadav.
In the 20th of West Indies’ run chase in Antigua on Friday, Ravi Ashwin sprung a surprise when he came onto bowl in the 20th over of his innings.
Ashwin is no stranger to experimenting and has been known to chop and change his action – and in the third ODI – he treated us all to a new variation in his bowling, showing more side arm than ever before and discarding his customary ‘tweak’ of the ball.
Only the 30-year-old will know how he came up with it, but whatever he has done, it served him well for his impressive 3-28 haul.
Who knows whether this is an experimental or permanent change in Ashwin’s action, but India will be hoping his form can continue.
The quirks of spin: Ashwin has changed his bowling technique.
The West Indies are a largely young and inexperienced side and their eleven on Friday had only played a collective 169 ODIs between them.
One man who stood out was 23-year-old wicket-keeper batsman Shai Hope – a player his country have shown a lot of faith in to carry the West Indies torch forward.
He batted alongside his brother, Kyle, who was making his ODI debut, as the Barbados-born duo came together to make a brief 45-run stand.
While a score of 24 for Shai wasn’t enough in West Indies’ reply, he looked like a man who has a big future in international cricket.
Shai Hope looked good during his 50-ball stay.
