India's Commanding Victory

India crushed the West Indies by a massive 211 runs in the opening ODI of a three-match series, delivering a performance that was as commanding as it was clinical. After an evenly contested T20I series, the ODI match turned out to be entirely one-sided, with the Indian team asserting dominance from the first ball to the last. Despite a few batting hiccups, India posted an imposing 314 for 9 and then dismantled the West Indies batting line-up, skittling them out for just 103 runs.

Smriti Mandhana, with a sublime knock of 91, and Renuka Singh, who claimed a sensational 5-wicket haul in her maiden ODI five-for, were the architects of India’s emphatic victory. Renuka’s fiery opening spell, which included the prized wickets of Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin within the first five overs, left the West Indies in tatters. The match was virtually decided in those early moments.

India's batting performance, however, was a mixed bag. Although the team amassed a formidable total, the innings lacked fluency in the first half. Pratika Rawal, debuting as Mandhana’s partner after several failed experiments in Australia, contributed 40 runs in a 110-run opening stand. Her innings was marked by nervousness and a string of lucky escapes, including a missed review, a dropped catch, and a close run-out. Rawal’s stay at the crease ended dramatically when Matthews pulled off a stunning one-handed return catch.

Mandhana, in her usual elegant form, brought up her 28th ODI fifty off 62 balls and transitioned into aggressive stroke play. However, her dismissal, along with Harleen Deol's cautious knock at No. 3, raised questions about India’s batting strategy. Some wondered if promoting Jemimah Rodrigues or Harmanpreet Kaur might have been a better choice.

Harmanpreet's arrival injected energy into the innings. Her quickfire 32 off 20 balls, marked by trademark sweeps and lofted shots, shifted the momentum. Unfortunately, her innings was cut short by a mix-up with Richa Ghosh. Ghosh, alongside Rodrigues, provided late fireworks, smashing 26 off 13 balls and 31 off 19, respectively. Their efforts added 160 runs in the final 20 overs, masking the middle-order struggles.

West Indies found some solace in Zaida James, whose left-arm spin earned her a maiden ODI five-for. But her achievement was overshadowed by the team’s dismal batting. Renuka’s devastating in-swingers left the opposition clueless, and the pressure allowed young bowlers Titas Sadhu and Priya Mishra to shine, with Sadhu claiming her first ODI wicket and Mishra grabbing two scalps in her short spell.

The fielding brilliance of Harmanpreet Kaur, who leaped high at mid-on to take a spectacular one-handed catch, symbolised India’s dominance. For the West Indies, it was a nightmarish batting collapse, one they’ll need to address as they prepare for the 50-over World Cup in 10 months on the same soil.

India’s victory wasn’t just a statement—it was a warning shot to competitors, showcasing their depth and hunger for success.

Scores: India W 314/9 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 91, Harleen Deol 44; Zaida James 5-45) beat West Indies W 103 in 26.2 overs (Afy Fletcher 24*; Renuka Singh 5-29, Priya Mishra 2-22) by 211 runs.