India's 239-run win over West Indies in the third Test helped them seal a 2-0 series win over the hosts with a Test to go. The win strengthened their push for the No.1 rankings and was the first time India have won two games in a series in West Indies.
It was thanks largely to Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha's rescue efforts in the first innings with the bat and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's ability to swing the ball and make utmost use of the conditions on day four. Eventually, positive batting and another West Indies collapse ensured that there was a result in the game despite losing an entire day to rain.
Here are the major talking points from the win.
Alzarri’s start bodes well for West Indies
After a spirited draw in the second Test, West Indies would have expected to put up more of a fight in the third Test, especially with an entire day being lost to rain. Although their batting left a lot to be desired, especially the top-order, the emergence of Alzarri Joseph would be a welcome relief for West Indies’ supporters.
Bagging a pair on your Test debut might not have been the start that 19-year-old fast bowler Alzarri would have wanted. But his start to international cricket with the ball in hand was a welcome reminder of the bygone era of fiercesome West Indies fast bowling.
After impressing at the U-19 World Cup, where he was an integral part of the victorious West Indies side, there have been calls to fast-track Alzarri Joseph into the Test side from many former legends. And when it finally happened, it was well worth the wait as the fast bowler demonstrated the value of having a bowler who is capable of bowling fast. Although he only picked up three wickets in the match, it was his aggression that helped WI run through the Indian top order in the first innings.
Is it time for Ashwin to be the overseas all-rounder?
India's series win over West Indies might have more significance apart from helping India inch closer to the No.1 Test ranking. The series might have also helped India with something they have been struggling with for a long time.
Ravichandran Ashwin may have his critics who claim that he is a home-track bully and only thrives when conditions suit him but this series might have Virat Kohli a clue as to how to use the 29-year-old in overseas tours. While Ashwin has been impressive with the ball so far in this series, it is with the bat that he has bailed India out.
Scoring four Test hundreds is no mean feat, especially if you are not batting in the top five. While they might have all come against West Indies, his performance with the bat, which helped him overtake Sunil Gavaskar as the Indian batsman with the best Test average against West Indies (min 500 runs) shows that it might finally be time to consider him as an all-rounder in overseas Tests.
In conditions where he can't always contribute with the ball, his exploits with the bat could prove invaluable and an all-rounder who can score runs regularly and pick up wickets is something India haven't had for some time now.
Umpiring howlers don't cost India
The merits and demerits of India's decision to not agree to use the Decision Referral System is something that can be spoken about all day. At times, their stubborn refusal to use technology has cost them dear and India have had to accept that it is all part of the deal and deal with it.
But what isn't part of the package is howlers going against them by umpires. On the final day when India were on the offensive and looking for quick runs to set a target for the hosts, they were the victims of not one but two decisions that didn't go their way. If Rohit Sharma doesn't get another chance in this series, he will certainly not be pleased with how he was given out lbw when he had nicked the second ball of the final day.
Even if Rohit's dismissal is forgiven for being one of those things, the no ball from which Wriddhiman Saha was out certainly cannot be excused. The amount of times that the umpires check for a no ball is simply ludicrous and the fact that they decided not to when a wicket was taken indicates a level of hypocrisy that not many will understand. While Kohli would have been seething at both decisions, he will however be content with the fact that despite that India managed to win the game.
Kohli's changes work out for the best
When Indian Test captain Virat Kohli announced the team that will take on West Indies in the third Test, there were more than a few eyebrows raised. The decision to drop Umesh Yadav and bring in Bhuvneshwar Kumar was arguably the easiest to understand, especially if the pitch was going to do a bit.
But the decision to pick Rohit Sharma over both Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay, who has arguably been India's most consistent batsmen over the last two years was baffling. Not only because it meant a change in the batting order but also because the series wasn't won yet. The decision to drop Amit Mishra for Ravindra Jadeja was perhaps slightly less bizarre as the surface at St Lucia traditionally isn't suited to spinners who bowl quicker through the air.
Yet, whether through a stroke of luck or through perfect judgement of the pitch, all three changes worked. Bhuvi made the crucial breakthroughs on day four that helped India push for an unlikely win after the previous day was washed out, Rohit Sharma showed the impetus India needed as they pushed for quick runs in the second innings and although Jadeja only picked up three wickets in the match, his impressive economy rate in the first innings kept batsmen on the back foot and forced them to take risks they otherwise wouldn't.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar swings the match India's way
When you are playing for the first time in Tests in the calendar year, you are bound to be a bit nervous as Bhuvneshwar Kumar admitted himself. Going into lunch on day four, West Indies were 194/3 with two set batsmen at the crease. The game seemed to be destined for a draw.
Enter Bhuvi. He might not have played a match all year but if there is one thing he can do, it is swing the ball. And swing it he did. As he bowled 10.4 overs on the trot and picked up five wickets for 14 runs. His spell meant West Indies collapsed from 202/3 to being bowled out for 225.
And it was all thanks to Bhuvi’s prodigious swing. If Ashwin ensured that India were rescued from peril on day one, it was the fast bowler who ensured that the game didn’t end in a draw. And although he might not have got the Man of the Match, his performance was crucial as was Kumar bowled 10.4 overs on the trot and took 5/14 in his hostile spell as the hosts lost their last 6 wickets for a mere 23 runs.
Click here to get India Squad for T20 World Cup 2024. Follow Sportskeeda for the T20 World Cup Schedule, Points Table, and news
