Shai Hope delivered one of his finest ODI innings with an unbeaten 162, guiding West Indies to a five-wicket win over India in the third and final one-day international in New Chandigarh on Saturday. India had already wrapped up the series, but the finale still produced a run-fest, a commanding chase, and a reminder of Hope’s class under pressure.
Hope anchors a huge chase
West Indies were asked to chase 352 and lost John Campbell early, but Hope quickly took control of the innings. He combined with Amir Jangoo for a vital 109-run partnership that settled the chase and gave the visitors momentum after the powerplay.
Jangoo played a valuable supporting role with 67, his third ODI half-century, before being run out. Sherfane Rutherford fell soon after, yet Hope never lost rhythm. He kept finding gaps, rotated strike smartly, and punished loose deliveries whenever India tried to tighten the field.
Key chase numbers
| Team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|
| India | 351/7 | Posted a massive total |
| West Indies | 352/5 | Won by 5 wickets |
| Shai Hope | 162* off 143 | Match-winning knock |
Even after West Indies lost a couple of wickets in the middle overs, Hope stayed in full command. Gudakesh Motie added a brisk 19 off 14 balls, while the skipper’s calm presence ensured the chase never drifted. West Indies got home with 10 balls to spare, capping a memorable individual performance and a strong team response.
India’s top order fires back
Earlier, India recovered from a nightmare start after slipping to 4-2. Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad rebuilt the innings with a fluent 137-run stand, turning the game around before the middle overs could squeeze them further.
Rohit looked in excellent touch during his 92 off 85 balls and seemed on course for a century before falling eight runs short. Gaikwad also contributed a useful half-century, helping India move from survival mode to full control.
After Rohit’s dismissal, KL Rahul took over and produced the innings of the match from India’s perspective. With a rare chance in the series, he brought up his ninth ODI hundred and then exploded at the finish, scoring 42 runs off his last 12 balls faced to lift India to 351/7.
Rahul’s late surge
Rahul remained unbeaten on 129 and was joined by handy late contributions from Naman Dhir and Anshul Kamboj. Those final overs gave India a formidable total, but even that was not enough to stop Hope’s response.
“When a chase stays alive deep into the innings, one batter can take full control,” a cricket observer noted. “Hope did exactly that, and he never let the pressure break his rhythm.”
West Indies’ win came after India had already sealed the series by taking the first two matches. The hosts had earlier completed a record chase of 406 in the second ODI with 6.3 overs to spare, making the third match a high-scoring finale rather than a decider.
What the result means
For West Indies, the victory was more than just a consolation. It offered a glimpse of their batting ceiling when one of their senior players takes responsibility and carries the innings deep. Hope’s effort also reinforced his status as one of the most dependable ODI batters in world cricket.
For India, the match was a mixed bag. Their top order and middle order both contributed meaningfully, but the bowlers had no real answer once Hope settled in. Even after posting 351, the total was not safe against a chase built on partnerships, timing, and composure.
In a series dominated by India, the final ODI still delivered drama, runs, and a standout individual performance. Hope’s unbeaten 162 ensured the tour ended with a statement from West Indies, even if the series trophy stayed with the hosts.
