Duo unstoppable when set: Holder

GUWAHATI: India skipper Virat Kohli said before the start of the first ODI against West Indies that the wicket would remain the same throughout, justifying his decision to field first. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja said after the easy win that he was clueless how it would behave in the second innings.

It remained a batsman’s paradise all through. If similar wickets are provided for the next four matches, only a score of close to 400 will suffice for Windies. Skipper Jason Holder admitted that.

“We were probably 30-40 runs short,” he said, adding that with their score (322/8) they needed to take wickets early. “You got to get them (Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma) out. That’s the only way to stop the flow of runs. As you know they are two quality players. The only way to stop them is to get them out.”

But the way the duo batted, it was going to be difficult, Jadeja explained. “They play proper cricketing shots. They don’t take any chances. They play down the ground mostly. They were just playing according the situation,” said the left-arm spinner.

Jadeja went for 66 runs in 10 overs, taking two wickets. “The wicket was also very good to bat on. There was no spin or swing. I was trying to bowl to the stumps, to restrict them by bowling in good areas.”

Jadeja removed Shimron Hetmyer, a recent find for West Indies who hit a century. Holder, missing many of his stars, was effusive in praise for Hetmyer, who ensured they batted 50 overs.

“It was outstanding, good to see him back in form. He had a lean patch in the Test series with some innocuous dismissals. He has been doing pretty well in the limited overs format. It was probably a bit unfortunate for him to get out when he got out; (it would) probably have taken us a bit further into the innings, but credit to the young player for getting his third ton.”