Jadeja Surpasses Kapil Dev’s Record With Sensational Performance In Barbados
Barbados, 28th July 2023: Ravindra Jadeja, the flamboyant all-rounder from India, showcased a brilliant performance as he weaved his magic against the West Indies’ batters, etching his name in the record books. During the first ODI at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, Jadeja was at the top of his game, claiming three crucial wickets and helping bundle out the West Indies were bowled out for a mere 114 runs in a quick 23-over inning.
Right from the start, it was evident that the hosts were ill-prepared to handle the Indian spinners, and Jadeja capitalized on their vulnerability early in the innings. With these three wickets, he surpassed the legendary Kapil Dev’s record for the most wickets by an Indian against the West Indies in ODIs:
Most wickets by an Indian against West Indies in ODIs:
1. Ravindra Jadeja – 44*
2. Kapil Dev – 43
3. Anil Kumble – 41
Jadeja’s first victim was Shimron Hetmyer, who fell for 11, attempting a ramp shot but failing to connect with the ball. In the very next over, Jadeja dismissed Rovman Powell for just 4, as Powell struggled to handle Jadeja’s spin, resulting in an edge to the slip where Shubman Gill made an easy catch. Jadeja’s third wicket came in the same over, when he removed Romario Shepherd, with Virat Kohli taking an outstanding one-handed catch at second slip.
Before the match, India’s captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl against the West Indies. India handed an ODI debut cap to Mukesh Kumar, while notable omissions from the playing XI for the series opener were Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Not to be outdone, left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav also wreaked havoc with the ball, dismantling the lower-middle order and tailenders of the West Indies, helping restrict them to a paltry 114 runs off 23 overs. Kuldeep’s exceptional performance saw him claim four wickets, conceding a mere six runs in his three overs.
Despite the challenging conditions for the batsmen, West Indies’ captain Shai Hope displayed some resilience, scoring a top score of 43 before being the ninth batsman to be dismissed.
Among the Indian bowlers, Umran Malik remained wicketless, while Hardik Pandya, Mukesh Kumar, and Shardul Thakur contributed with one wicket each.
