Follow UsSuryakumar Yadav scored a determined 64 off 83 balls (5x4) while pacer Prasidh Krishna starred with a superb 4-12 as India beat West Indies by 44 runs in the second ODI to win the three-match series 2-0 on Wednesday.
In a must-win match, West Indies were forced to rest regular captain Kieron Pollard as a precaution as stand-in skipper Nicholas Pooran opted to bowl after winning the toss at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
It proved to work for a while after Kemar Roach removed captain Rohit Sharma in the third over. India experimented with its opening combination by partnering Rishabh Pant with Rohit as the keeper-batter departed in the 12th over in Odean Smith's bowling.
Smith, who came in for Pollard, soon sent back Virat Kohli caught behind when KL Rahul joined Suryakumar Yadav in the middle. The pair batted with authority as Rahul accelerated in the middle overs with four boundaries and two sixes.
However, a mix-up while running between the wickets broke the 89-run stand as Rahul (49) was caught short of the crease in the 30th over. Suryakumar soon reached his fifty in 70 balls and added 43 runs with Washington Sundar (24) before departing in Fabian Allen's bowling.
Despite losing wickets in a heap at the end, Deepak Hooda scored a quickfire 29 off 25 balls as India went past the 200-run mark and finished 237/9 in 50 overs.
Beginning the chase, Windies openers Shai Hope (27) and Brandon King (18) were cautious against the new ball as they put 32 in seven overs when Krishna got King to edge it to the keeper.
The Kerala pacer then got Darren Bravo with a superb seamer outside off-stump before Hope lofted Yuzvendra Chahal to Yadav at long-off. Captain Pooran and Jason Holder soon followed as the visitors were reduced to 76/5 by the 22nd over.
Shamarh Brooks (44 off 64 balls) and Akeal Hosein (34 off 52 balls) tried to stem the tide by adding 41 for the sixth wicket. Hooda broke the partnership when he got Brooks to hit it straight to Yadav on the boundary.
Mohammed Siraj then sent back Fabian Allen while Shardul Thakur got the better of Hosein in the 40th over. Odean Smith (24 off 20 balls) put up a fight as he smashed two sixes off Thakur, but departed when he hit Washington Sundar straight to Kohli in the 45th over.
Prasidh, who bowled three maidens in his nine overs and conceded just 12 runs, wrapped up the match when he bowled Roach for a duck.
The third ODI will be played on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.