5 memorable ODI batting efforts by India against West Indies at home

#3 Virat Kohli (157*) - Visakhapatnam, October 2018

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli. Pic: Getty Images

Captain Virat Kohli led the front, scoring a scintillating 157* off 129 balls in Visakhapatnam in October 2018 in a tied one-dayer. Batting first after winning the toss in the second match of the five-game series, India put up an impressive 321 for 6, courtesy of Kohli’s excellent hundred. He hit 13 fours and four sixes in a dominant knock.

After the hosts lost a couple of early wickets, the captain consolidated and brought up a patient fifty off 56 balls. During the innings, he also broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become the fastest man to score 10,000 ODI runs. Kohli reached his second hundred in as many games by creaming Marlon Samuels over cover for four.

He then smacked Obed McCoy for two sixes in an over and picked up two fours and as many maximums off Kemar Roach’s last two overs. Kohli’s brilliance was, however, matched by Shai Hope (123*) and Shimron Hetmyer (94) as West Indies tied the contest.

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#2 Rohit Sharma (152*) - Guwahati, October 2018

Team India opener Rohit Sharma. Pic: Getty Images

Rohit Sharma scored a brilliant 152* off 117 balls as India chased 323 against the Windies in Guwahati in October 2018 with eight wickets in hand and 47 balls to spare. Fielding first after winning the toss, India’s bowlers allowed the visitors to post 322 for 8 as Shimron Hetmyer cracked 106 off 78. However, Rohit’s special effort outshone Hetmyer’s knock.

The Indian opener struck 15 fours and eight sixes in his innings as India gunned down the target in 42.1 overs. He was patient at the start even as Kohli went on the attack. Rohit opened up by whacking Devendra Bishoo for consecutive sixes in the 21st over. Having gained momentum, the opener eased to an 84-ball hundred by driving Ashley Nurse past cover for a boundary.

After Kohli’s dismissal for 140, Rohit stayed until the end and took India over the line. He hammered Oshane Thomas for three consecutive fours in the 42nd over. He finished off the match in style, lofting left-arm spinner Chandrapaul Hemraj for a six and also bringing up his 150 in the process.

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#1 Virender Sehwag (219) - Indore, December 2011

Former India opener Virender Sehwag. Pic: Getty Images

Leading the team, the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag hammered 219 off only 149 balls in Indore in December 2011. The hosts batted first after winning the toss and Sehwag went berserk. He slammed 25 fours and seven sixes as India registered their highest ODI total of 418 for 5.

The right-hander reached his fifty off 41 balls by swinging Sunil Narine for a maximum over long-on. He kept attacking the West Indies bowlers and raced to a century off 69 balls. There was no respite for the visitors as Sehwag attacked everyone from Narine to Marlon Samuels and Ravi Rampaul.

He became the second man to reach a double-century in ODIs in the 44th over when he cut Andre Russell past point for a boundary. Incidentally, Rohit was the batter at the other end when Sehwag completed his double hundred. The former would go on to slam a record three double hundreds in ODIs. Sehwag’s innings ended when he miscued Kieron Pollard to long-off.

Chasing an improbable 419, West Indies were all out for 265 as Denesh Ramdin top-scored with 96. Ravindra Jadeja and debutant Rahul Sharma claimed three wickets each.