Kuldeep Yadav's five-wicket haul helped team India to win the first Test against West Indies on Saturday.

Following on, the tourists were all out at a score of 196 runs and suffered an innings and 272-run&nbsp;defeat in Rajkot. The match ended early in the final session and Windies now trail the two-match series 1-0.

They were dismissed for 181 in their first innings in response to India's 649-9 declared.

West Indies' opener Kieran Powell started off well and fought a lonely battle as the team&nbsp;kept losing wickets from the other side. Powell scored 83 runs to offer some resistance to the team and his knock included eight fours and four sixes.

Kuldeep soon took control with his left-arm wrist spin in the afternoon session to rattle West Indies' top and middle order. He is playing just his fourth Test since making his debut last year against Australia.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who returned figures of 4-37 in West Indies' first innings, had sent back stand-in skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for 10 before lunch and then got Bishoo.

Ravindra Jadeja, who scored his maiden international century during India's only innings, took the final wicket of Shannon Gabriel for four as the hosts celebrated an utterly dominant win over the former cricketing powerhouse.

West Indies were all out for 181 in their first innings in reply to India's mammoth 649 for 9 in the morning session.

The world's top Test side surpassed their previous <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ent-india-thrash-west-indies-in-first-test-register-their-biggest-ever-victory-169832">biggest win</a> against&nbsp;Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs during the minnows' debut five-day game in June.

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The Windies go to lunch on 33/1, trailing by 435 runs in Rajkot. Will they fight back in the second session of day three? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvWI</a> LIVE ⬇️<a href="https://t.co/bOSqME405O">https://t.co/bOSqME405O</a> <a href="https://t.co/UzG4AxLwKk">pic.twitter.com/UzG4AxLwKk</a>
— ICC (@ICC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1048453900016074752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The highlight of the game was India's batsmen ensured the world's number one side dominated the match after centuries by 18-year-old debutant opener Prithvi Shaw, skipper Virat Kohli and Jadeja.

The second match is scheduled in Hyderabad starting October 12.

Kuldeep Yadav's five-wicket haul helped team India to win the first Test against West Indies on Saturday. Following on, the tourists were all out at a score of 196 runs and suffered an innings and 272-run defeat in Rajkot.

Kuldeep Yadav's five-wicket haul helped team India to win the first Test against West Indies on Saturday. Following on, the tourists were all out at a score of 196 runs and suffered an innings and 272-run defeat in Rajkot. The match ended early in the final session and Windies now trail the two-match series 1-0. They were dismissed for 181 in their first innings in response to India's 649-9 declared. West Indies' opener Kieran Powell started off well and fought a lonely battle as the team kept losing wickets from the other side. Powell scored 83 runs to offer some resistance to the team and his knock included eight fours and four sixes. Kuldeep soon took control with his left-arm wrist spin in the afternoon session to rattle West Indies' top and middle order. He is playing just his fourth Test since making his debut last year against Australia. Ravichandran Ashwin, who returned figures of 4-37 in West Indies' first innings, had sent back stand-in skipper Kraigg Brathwaite for 10 before lunch and then got Bishoo. Ravindra Jadeja, who scored his maiden international century during India's only innings, took the final wicket of Shannon Gabriel for four as the hosts celebrated an utterly dominant win over the former cricketing powerhouse. West Indies were all out for 181 in their first innings in reply to India's mammoth 649 for 9 in the morning session. The world's top Test side surpassed their previous biggest win against Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs during the minnows' debut five-day game in June. The Windies go to lunch on 33/1, trailing by 435 runs in Rajkot. Will they fight back in the second session of day three? #INDvWI LIVE ⬇️https://t.co/bOSqME405O pic.twitter.com/UzG4AxLwKk — ICC (@ICC) October 6, 2018 × The highlight of the game was India's batsmen ensured the world's number one side dominated the match after centuries by 18-year-old debutant opener Prithvi Shaw, skipper Virat Kohli and Jadeja. The second match is scheduled in Hyderabad starting October 12.

Ind vs WI, 1st Test: Kuldeep Yadav shines as India defeat West Indies by an innings and 272 runs

After skipper Rohit Sharma decided to sit out from the Super Four dead rubber clash against Afghanistan on Tuesday, former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was handed over the captaincy duties for the Men in Blue.&nbsp;

The wicketkeeper-batsman, who is known for his cool and calm demeanour on the field, once again lost his cool and snapped at Kuldeep Yadav during Afghanistan’s innings.

In the middle of the match, the chinaman asked MS Dhoni for a field change in his over. But despite repeated instances from the 23-year-old, the skipper refused to make the alterations and asked Yadav to carry on with his bowling.&nbsp;

When Yadav continued to argue, Dhoni snapped back at the bowler saying, “Bowling karega ya bowler change karein? (Will you bowl or should we change the bowler?).”&nbsp;

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That's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhoni</a> during <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvAFG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvAFG</a> 
"Bowling karega ya bowler change karein" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MSDhoni?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MSDhoni</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KuldeepYadav?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KuldeepYadav</a> when he insisted for a field change <a href="https://t.co/gQHFkBH9jB">pic.twitter.com/gQHFkBH9jB</a>
— Manoj Gupta (@PassionForNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/PassionForNews/status/1044840868283387905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Hearing Dhoni’s words, Kuldeep immediately went silent and stepped back to carry on the attack.

This was not the first time Kuldeep got to hear stern words from Dhoni.

Meanwhile, India, who are already in the finals, lost their way after the 110-run opening stand between Ambati Rayudu and KL Rahul. They were bowled out for 252, ending the match in a tie.

After skipper Rohit Sharma decided to sit out from the Super Four dead rubber clash against Afghanistan on Tuesday, former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was handed over the captaincy duties for the Men in Blue.

After skipper Rohit Sharma decided to sit out from the Super Four dead rubber clash against Afghanistan on Tuesday, former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was handed over the captaincy duties for the Men in Blue. The wicketkeeper-batsman, who is known for his cool and calm demeanour on the field, once again lost his cool and snapped at Kuldeep Yadav during Afghanistan’s innings. In the middle of the match, the chinaman asked MS Dhoni for a field change in his over. But despite repeated instances from the 23-year-old, the skipper refused to make the alterations and asked Yadav to carry on with his bowling. When Yadav continued to argue, Dhoni snapped back at the bowler saying, “Bowling karega ya bowler change karein? (Will you bowl or should we change the bowler?).” That's #Dhoni during #INDvAFG "Bowling karega ya bowler change karein" #MSDhoni to #KuldeepYadav when he insisted for a field change pic.twitter.com/gQHFkBH9jB — Manoj Gupta (@PassionForNews) September 26, 2018 × Hearing Dhoni’s words, Kuldeep immediately went silent and stepped back to carry on the attack. This was not the first time Kuldeep got to hear stern words from Dhoni. Meanwhile, India, who are already in the finals, lost their way after the 110-run opening stand between Ambati Rayudu and KL Rahul. They were bowled out for 252, ending the match in a tie.

Watch: MS Dhoni loses his cool on Kuldeep Yadav during India-Afghanistan game 

Two-time champions Kolkata will host Kane Williamson-led Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens stadium on Friday, May 25 to book a berth in the Indian Premier League 2018 finals.

The winner of tonight's match will meet MS Dhoni-led Chennai in the IPL's finale on May 27 as team Chennai has already through to the finals after defeating Hyderabad in the Qualifier 1.

It's very ironic when the table toppers at the end of league matches, struggle&nbsp;to reach the finals, now call it carelessness or the lack of performance from their middle-order, Hyderabad have lost four straight games, something that will be a cause of concern for Williamson's side in tonight's game.

Although, Hyderabad have the best bowling unit in the presence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma and Rashid Khan. The bowling side will try to take benefits from the Eden Gardens track but it is not easy to face Dinesh Karthik's side&nbsp;as the batsmen coming at the 6th and 7th position have potential to score runs.

In the presence of crazy fans at the Eden Gardens, Dinesh Karthik&nbsp;side definitely has an upper hand against Hyderabad.

In the first Qualifier, when Hyderabad had their match in the pocket with Chennai struggling at 62-6 while chasing 140 runs but the bowling strategy backfired in the death overs when Carlos Brathwaite leaked too many runs.

Also, Hyderabad's problem has been their batting which is heavily reliant on skipper Kane Williamson, the current 'Orange Cap' holder with 685 runs at 57.05 average.

In order to resolve it, Shikhar Dhawan will have to rise to the occasion but it is the middle order that has created problems, Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan will have to score in order to help the bowling unit to bowl without pressure.

On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik who will look to go unchanged unless there's an injury in the lineup.&nbsp;

Their biggest strength has been the team's ability to stand up and perform in case someone fails. That we have seen in the Eliminator match when the top batting order was out bowled then middle batting order scored to reach the target.

The clash is going to be very interesting as the result will give another finalist of the tournament.

Watch the preview:

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Playing XI (TBC):

Kolkata: Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik, Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.

Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan, Shreevats Goswami, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Carlos Brathwaite, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Kaul

Two-time champions Kolkata will host Kane Williamson-led Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens stadium to book a berth in the IPL 2018 finals

Two-time champions Kolkata will host Kane Williamson-led Hyderabad at the Eden Gardens stadium on Friday, May 25 to book a berth in the Indian Premier League 2018 finals. The winner of tonight's match will meet MS Dhoni-led Chennai in the IPL's finale on May 27 as team Chennai has already through to the finals after defeating Hyderabad in the Qualifier 1. It's very ironic when the table toppers at the end of league matches, struggle to reach the finals, now call it carelessness or the lack of performance from their middle-order, Hyderabad have lost four straight games, something that will be a cause of concern for Williamson's side in tonight's game. Although, Hyderabad have the best bowling unit in the presence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma and Rashid Khan. The bowling side will try to take benefits from the Eden Gardens track but it is not easy to face Dinesh Karthik's side as the batsmen coming at the 6th and 7th position have potential to score runs. In the presence of crazy fans at the Eden Gardens, Dinesh Karthik side definitely has an upper hand against Hyderabad. In the first Qualifier, when Hyderabad had their match in the pocket with Chennai struggling at 62-6 while chasing 140 runs but the bowling strategy backfired in the death overs when Carlos Brathwaite leaked too many runs. Also, Hyderabad's problem has been their batting which is heavily reliant on skipper Kane Williamson, the current 'Orange Cap' holder with 685 runs at 57.05 average. In order to resolve it, Shikhar Dhawan will have to rise to the occasion but it is the middle order that has created problems, Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan will have to score in order to help the bowling unit to bowl without pressure. On the other hand, Dinesh Karthik who will look to go unchanged unless there's an injury in the lineup. Their biggest strength has been the team's ability to stand up and perform in case someone fails. That we have seen in the Eliminator match when the top batting order was out bowled then middle batting order scored to reach the target. The clash is going to be very interesting as the result will give another finalist of the tournament. Watch the preview: × Playing XI (TBC): Kolkata: Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik, Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna. Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan, Shreevats Goswami, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Carlos Brathwaite, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Kaul

IPL 2018, 2nd Qualifier: Karthik-led Kolkata have advantage at Eden against Hyderabad

Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bowl against Kolkata in the Eliminator match of Indian Premier League 2018 at &nbspEden Gardens stadium on Wednesday.

After winning the toss, Rahane mentioned the characteristics of Eden's pitch which is a bit damp and the team which bats in the second innings has been successful in most of the occasions.

On the other hand, Kolkata's skipper Dinesh Karthik said there is no scope of errors in tonight's match.&nbsp

Both the teams have entered with the same squad and there is no change in the playing XI.&nbsp

Playing XI:

Kolkata: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav

Rajasthan: Rahul Tripathi, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Sanju Samson, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Krishnappa Gowtham, Stuart Binny, Jofra Archer, Ish Sodhi, Jaydev Unadkat, Shreyas Gopal, Ben Laughlin

Eden's pitch which is a bit damp and the team which bats in the second innings has been successful in most of the occasions

Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bowl against Kolkata in the Eliminator match of Indian Premier League 2018 at &nbspEden Gardens stadium on Wednesday. After winning the toss, Rahane mentioned the characteristics of Eden's pitch which is a bit damp and the team which bats in the second innings has been successful in most of the occasions. On the other hand, Kolkata's skipper Dinesh Karthik said there is no scope of errors in tonight's match. Both the teams have entered with the same squad and there is no change in the playing XI. Playing XI: Kolkata: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik(w/c), Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Javon Searles, Piyush Chawla, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav Rajasthan: Rahul Tripathi, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Sanju Samson, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Krishnappa Gowtham, Stuart Binny, Jofra Archer, Ish Sodhi, Jaydev Unadkat, Shreyas Gopal, Ben Laughlin

IPL 2018: Ajinkya Rahane opts to bowl against Kolkata in Eliminator match

Kuldeep Yadav bowled a fantastic spell and took four wickets to end Rajasthan's inning for mere 142 runs at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Put into bat, Rajasthan got a great start as openers Jos Buttler and Rahul Tripathi began attacking the Kolkata bowlers from the first ball.&nbsp;

They together established a partnership of 63 runs before Rahul Tripathi lost his wicket to Russell after making 27 runs.&nbsp;

In-form Buttler continued his attack but also lost his wicket soon to &nbsp;Kuldeep Yadav after contributing 39 runs in just 22 balls.

His inning included five boundaries and two huge sixes.

However, it was the downline which failed to capitalise the start as skipper Ajinklya Rahane was clean bowled by Yadav on 11 runs.

Yadav struck again and dismissed Ben Stokes and Stuart Binny for 11 and 1 respectively.

Apart from Yadav, Andre Russell and Prasidh Krishna took two wickets each.&nbsp;

Shivam Mavi and Sunil Narine managed to take one wicket apiece.

Kolkata skipper Dinesh Karthik won the toss and opted to field against Ajinkya Rahane-led side.&nbsp;

Karthik believed that his team has performed well while chasing the targets in previous clashes, so taking advantage of the toss would benefit the Knights.

On the other hand, Anjinkya Rahane said that he is happy to bat first in the do-or-die match.

For Rajasthan, Ish Sodhi, Anureet Singh and Rahul Tripathi have included in the squad.

For Kolkata, Shuvam Mavi is fit and healthy but Piyush Chawla is out over some health issues. 
&nbsp;

Rajasthan got a great start as openers Jos Buttler and Rahul Tripathi began attacking the Kolkata bowlers from the first ball.

Kuldeep Yadav bowled a fantastic spell and took four wickets to end Rajasthan's inning for mere 142 runs at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Put into bat, Rajasthan got a great start as openers Jos Buttler and Rahul Tripathi began attacking the Kolkata bowlers from the first ball. They together established a partnership of 63 runs before Rahul Tripathi lost his wicket to Russell after making 27 runs. In-form Buttler continued his attack but also lost his wicket soon to Kuldeep Yadav after contributing 39 runs in just 22 balls. His inning included five boundaries and two huge sixes. However, it was the downline which failed to capitalise the start as skipper Ajinklya Rahane was clean bowled by Yadav on 11 runs. Yadav struck again and dismissed Ben Stokes and Stuart Binny for 11 and 1 respectively. Apart from Yadav, Andre Russell and Prasidh Krishna took two wickets each. Shivam Mavi and Sunil Narine managed to take one wicket apiece. Kolkata skipper Dinesh Karthik won the toss and opted to field against Ajinkya Rahane-led side. Karthik believed that his team has performed well while chasing the targets in previous clashes, so taking advantage of the toss would benefit the Knights. On the other hand, Anjinkya Rahane said that he is happy to bat first in the do-or-die match. For Rajasthan, Ish Sodhi, Anureet Singh and Rahul Tripathi have included in the squad. For Kolkata, Shuvam Mavi is fit and healthy but Piyush Chawla is out over some health issues.

IPL 2018: Kuldeep Yadav's four-wicket haul ends Rajasthan's inning for 142

&nbsp;

<meta charset="utf-8" />

This is a great time to be an Indian cricket fan. <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-virat-kohli-shardul-thakur-india-south-africa-6th-odi-team-india-indvssa-team-india-live-33105">After beating South Africa</a> in the sixth and final ODI at Centurion, India wrapped up a historic series victory by thumping the hosts 5-1. The manner of India&rsquo;s dominance and South Africa&rsquo;s abject capitulation has left countless cricket fans shocked.

Last night&rsquo;s ODI was a dead rubber. The series was already decided. And yet, people expected the home team to show fight in order to save some face. That was not to be as on a good batting surface, South Africa was bowled out for just 204 and then Team India brushed aside the target with eight wickets in hand and about 18 overs to spare.

Leading the charge was once again <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/best-batsman-in-the-world-now-says-ravi-shastri-for-virat-kohli-33154">captain Virat Kohli</a>, whose magnificent unbeaten 129 made a mockery of the small target. The Indian bowlers, too, were brilliant and young pacer Shradul Thakur&rsquo;s 4-52 helped to restrict the home side to a low score.

Prior to this series, South Africa was ranked the No.1 ODI side in the world. After having been thoroughly dismantled by India, they have slipped to the No.2 slot and given the way their team is looking at the present, things do not look very rosy for the Proteas.

India, meanwhile, will be thrilled. Their top order looks in great touch and their bowling, especially that of the spinners, has been regularly choking the opposition. Just to put things in perspective, the Indian bowlers have managed to clinch 51 wickets in the 6 ODIs as compared to just 23 by the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/virats-desperation-to-win-games-for-his-side-is-massive-33145">South African</a> bowlers.

The spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, have captured 33 wickets among them and that speaks volumes of the control and dominance they had over the South African batsmen.

The hero of the series for India, apart from the bowlers, has been Virat Kohli. He has not just led from the front, he has been absolutely peerless in the way he has gone about scoring his runs and making a mockery of the South African bowling. In the 6 ODIs, Kohli has garnered a whopping 558 runs at an astounding average of 186 with 3 hundred and one fifty.

His sheer dominance has been phenomenal to witness and there is no denying that we are seeing a living legend blossom on the front of our eyes. In recent memory, no other batsman has single-handedly decimated an opposition so ruthlessly. Perhaps, Sachin&rsquo;s supremacy over Australia in the 1998 season comes close in mind.

Kohli now has 35 ODI hundreds and where exactly does he end up will be fascinating to watch.

While India will be celebrating this momentous series victory, they need to be wary of a few issues as well. Their middle-order needs some changes and flexibility and has clearly struggled to take the initiative when it mattered. They also need a capable finisher at the end stages as Hardik Pandya hasn&rsquo;t really excelled in that role as yet.

If India can sort this issue out then they can go on to dominate everywhere in the world, especially with the variety they now have in their bowling lineup.

For South Africa, it will be back to the drawing board. Clearly, their new set of young players has not been up to the mark and they are overly reliant on yesteryear stalwarts like AB de Villers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis to bail them out.

If South Africa hopes to regain their No.1 status and be a force in the 2019 World Cup, then the selectors and the team management need to take a long, hard look for the next generation of cricketers who can lead the team.

Cricket-wise, this ODI series was a dampener. The contest, save for the fourth ODI, was thoroughly one-sided and India cruised to victory in all their games. The fans surely would have expected a lot more fight and thrill as the No.1 and No.2 sides of the world went at loggerheads.

Regardless, team India has been really professional and clinical in their ways and can be proud of this historic achievement. Kudos to them for achieving this spectacular ODI series victory against South Africa on their own turf &ndash; it&rsquo;s a feat that no other visiting Indian team has achieved before.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

The spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, have captured 33 wickets among them and that speaks volumes of the control and dominance they had over the South African batsmen

This is a great time to be an Indian cricket fan. After beating South Africa in the sixth and final ODI at Centurion, India wrapped up a historic series victory by thumping the hosts 5-1. The manner of India’s dominance and South Africa’s abject capitulation has left countless cricket fans shocked. Last night’s ODI was a dead rubber. The series was already decided. And yet, people expected the home team to show fight in order to save some face. That was not to be as on a good batting surface, South Africa was bowled out for just 204 and then Team India brushed aside the target with eight wickets in hand and about 18 overs to spare. Leading the charge was once again captain Virat Kohli, whose magnificent unbeaten 129 made a mockery of the small target. The Indian bowlers, too, were brilliant and young pacer Shradul Thakur’s 4-52 helped to restrict the home side to a low score. Prior to this series, South Africa was ranked the No.1 ODI side in the world. After having been thoroughly dismantled by India, they have slipped to the No.2 slot and given the way their team is looking at the present, things do not look very rosy for the Proteas. India, meanwhile, will be thrilled. Their top order looks in great touch and their bowling, especially that of the spinners, has been regularly choking the opposition. Just to put things in perspective, the Indian bowlers have managed to clinch 51 wickets in the 6 ODIs as compared to just 23 by the South African bowlers. The spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, have captured 33 wickets among them and that speaks volumes of the control and dominance they had over the South African batsmen. The hero of the series for India, apart from the bowlers, has been Virat Kohli. He has not just led from the front, he has been absolutely peerless in the way he has gone about scoring his runs and making a mockery of the South African bowling. In the 6 ODIs, Kohli has garnered a whopping 558 runs at an astounding average of 186 with 3 hundred and one fifty. His sheer dominance has been phenomenal to witness and there is no denying that we are seeing a living legend blossom on the front of our eyes. In recent memory, no other batsman has single-handedly decimated an opposition so ruthlessly. Perhaps, Sachin’s supremacy over Australia in the 1998 season comes close in mind. Kohli now has 35 ODI hundreds and where exactly does he end up will be fascinating to watch. While India will be celebrating this momentous series victory, they need to be wary of a few issues as well. Their middle-order needs some changes and flexibility and has clearly struggled to take the initiative when it mattered. They also need a capable finisher at the end stages as Hardik Pandya hasn’t really excelled in that role as yet. If India can sort this issue out then they can go on to dominate everywhere in the world, especially with the variety they now have in their bowling lineup. For South Africa, it will be back to the drawing board. Clearly, their new set of young players has not been up to the mark and they are overly reliant on yesteryear stalwarts like AB de Villers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis to bail them out. If South Africa hopes to regain their No.1 status and be a force in the 2019 World Cup, then the selectors and the team management need to take a long, hard look for the next generation of cricketers who can lead the team. Cricket-wise, this ODI series was a dampener. The contest, save for the fourth ODI, was thoroughly one-sided and India cruised to victory in all their games. The fans surely would have expected a lot more fight and thrill as the No.1 and No.2 sides of the world went at loggerheads. Regardless, team India has been really professional and clinical in their ways and can be proud of this historic achievement. Kudos to them for achieving this spectacular ODI series victory against South Africa on their own turf – it’s a feat that no other visiting Indian team has achieved before. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Magnificent Kohli was crucial in India's win over South Africa

How would you rate the performance of a team who has defeated the number two ODI team in ICC ranking, in back to back matches by the massive margins of 9 wickets and 124 runs?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

I can only describe it as insane.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

But this is what men in blue have just done during the 2nd&nbsp;and 3rd&nbsp;ODIs of the current ODI series.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Once Pakistan&rsquo;s Cricket legend Imran Khan said that captain should rely on strong points of his side with conviction and should go for full throttle attack.

&nbsp;

So when Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were running through the South African batting line-up during the second and third ODIs against South Africa, what Imran said was simply holding true. Both of these spinners claimed sixteen wickets between them during these two matches and India simply decimated the 2nd&nbsp;ranked team South Africa in back to back matches. India&rsquo;s proven strength in spin bowling played its part to perfection yet again and Kohli simple unleashed them to hunt South Africans.

&nbsp;

After the 2nd&nbsp;ODI, Indian Captain Virat Kohli himself came up with the rave compliment for the performance of the Indian spinners. According to Kohli, Chahal and Kuldeep can generate a turn on any surface. If Kohli thinks so, then the moot question here is why spinners were not in much of action during the Test series, notwithstanding that series was played on pacer-friendly tracks.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

There is a specific case here for Kuldeep Yadav. People was bit surprised when Kuldeep was not selected for the Test series against South Africa. So, Kohli&rsquo;s statement endorses the fact that Kuldeep deserved a place in Test playing eleven. Being a left-arm chinaman bowler, Kuldeep brings a certain x-factor and surprise element on the table. He had a wonderful Test debut last year. Before the Test squad for the series against South Africa was selected, Rahul Dravid opined that India should use unorthodox style embedded in Kuldeep&#39;s&nbsp;bowling to its advantage.

&nbsp;

But let&rsquo;s park Kuldeep&#39;s exclusion from the Test squad for the time being; the performance of Chahal and Kuldeep suggests that perhaps Kohli missed the trick in utilising available spinners during the last two Test matches. Particularly, Kohli erred in leaving Jadeja out from playing eleven during the second Test. Kohli even overlooked the fact that during the last tour in 2014, Jadeja had a six wickets haul in a Test in South Africa.&nbsp;In the last Test match as well, Kohli went for five fast bowlers and one of them (Hardik) hardly bowled.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Chahal has been consistently&nbsp;performing&nbsp;well in the ODIs. He struck to fame with his&nbsp;very successful stint with the RCB in the IPL.&nbsp;Chahal has been proving his credentials in the ODI and the T-20 time and again. Last year in a T-20 match, Chahal claimed an amazing six wickets haul. His 38 wickets in 20 ODIs with an economy rate of 4.58 speaks about Chahal&rsquo;s ability to claim wickets and at the same time keeping the run-scoring in control. He doesn&rsquo;t give much air and bowls rather flat but he is spot on with his length and line and generate good turn.

&nbsp;

Kuldeep Yadav has earned his place in the national side with his hard work. So far in ODI series, he has bowled beautifully, gave nice flight to balls, pitched them right and moreover disguised his wrong ones (googlies) quite impeccably.

&nbsp;

With such form of the Indian team, Kuldeep and Chahal in particular, and with a depleted South African side (ABD, du Plessis and de Kock are out due to injuries), India stands a clear chance of sweeping the ODI series with a huge margin. Not be surprised if the ODI series ends up with a scoreline of 6-0.

&nbsp;

The narrative which India has reversed after losing first two Tests reached its zenith by this 3rd&nbsp;ODI and Chahal and Kuldeep are the men of the moment.

&nbsp;

In all probability, Chahal and Kuldeep are set to play a big role for their side in the World Cup next year. Being wrist spinners, both of them have displayed an uncanny ability to bowl effectively on tracks, which are not necessarily spinner&rsquo;s friendly. Both of them would be players to watch in England during ICC World Cup 2019.

&nbsp;

And yes, how interesting it is, India has two world-class finger spinners in form of Ashwin and Jadeja for the Test matches and two demolition men, two wrist spinners Chahal and Kuldeep to unleash havoc in ODIs.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

India’s proven strength in spin bowling played its part to perfection yet again and Kohli simple unleashed them to hunt South Africans.

How would you rate the performance of a team who has defeated the number two ODI team in ICC ranking, in back to back matches by the massive margins of 9 wickets and 124 runs? I can only describe it as insane. But this is what men in blue have just done during the 2nd and 3rd ODIs of the current ODI series. Once Pakistan’s Cricket legend Imran Khan said that captain should rely on strong points of his side with conviction and should go for full throttle attack. So when Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were running through the South African batting line-up during the second and third ODIs against South Africa, what Imran said was simply holding true. Both of these spinners claimed sixteen wickets between them during these two matches and India simply decimated the 2nd ranked team South Africa in back to back matches. India’s proven strength in spin bowling played its part to perfection yet again and Kohli simple unleashed them to hunt South Africans. After the 2nd ODI, Indian Captain Virat Kohli himself came up with the rave compliment for the performance of the Indian spinners. According to Kohli, Chahal and Kuldeep can generate a turn on any surface. If Kohli thinks so, then the moot question here is why spinners were not in much of action during the Test series, notwithstanding that series was played on pacer-friendly tracks. There is a specific case here for Kuldeep Yadav. People was bit surprised when Kuldeep was not selected for the Test series against South Africa. So, Kohli’s statement endorses the fact that Kuldeep deserved a place in Test playing eleven. Being a left-arm chinaman bowler, Kuldeep brings a certain x-factor and surprise element on the table. He had a wonderful Test debut last year. Before the Test squad for the series against South Africa was selected, Rahul Dravid opined that India should use unorthodox style embedded in Kuldeep's bowling to its advantage. But let’s park Kuldeep's exclusion from the Test squad for the time being; the performance of Chahal and Kuldeep suggests that perhaps Kohli missed the trick in utilising available spinners during the last two Test matches. Particularly, Kohli erred in leaving Jadeja out from playing eleven during the second Test. Kohli even overlooked the fact that during the last tour in 2014, Jadeja had a six wickets haul in a Test in South Africa. In the last Test match as well, Kohli went for five fast bowlers and one of them (Hardik) hardly bowled. Chahal has been consistently performing well in the ODIs. He struck to fame with his very successful stint with the RCB in the IPL. Chahal has been proving his credentials in the ODI and the T-20 time and again. Last year in a T-20 match, Chahal claimed an amazing six wickets haul. His 38 wickets in 20 ODIs with an economy rate of 4.58 speaks about Chahal’s ability to claim wickets and at the same time keeping the run-scoring in control. He doesn’t give much air and bowls rather flat but he is spot on with his length and line and generate good turn. Kuldeep Yadav has earned his place in the national side with his hard work. So far in ODI series, he has bowled beautifully, gave nice flight to balls, pitched them right and moreover disguised his wrong ones (googlies) quite impeccably. With such form of the Indian team, Kuldeep and Chahal in particular, and with a depleted South African side (ABD, du Plessis and de Kock are out due to injuries), India stands a clear chance of sweeping the ODI series with a huge margin. Not be surprised if the ODI series ends up with a scoreline of 6-0. The narrative which India has reversed after losing first two Tests reached its zenith by this 3rd ODI and Chahal and Kuldeep are the men of the moment. In all probability, Chahal and Kuldeep are set to play a big role for their side in the World Cup next year. Being wrist spinners, both of them have displayed an uncanny ability to bowl effectively on tracks, which are not necessarily spinner’s friendly. Both of them would be players to watch in England during ICC World Cup 2019. And yes, how interesting it is, India has two world-class finger spinners in form of Ashwin and Jadeja for the Test matches and two demolition men, two wrist spinners Chahal and Kuldeep to unleash havoc in ODIs. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav are demolition men of Indian cricket

Virat Kohli&#39;s masterclass and a pouncing pack of wrist-spinners ensured a 124-run win for India in the third ODI here, giving the visitors an unassailable 3-0 lead and taking them one step closer to a maiden series triumph in South Africa.

Kohli reaffirmed his status as an ODI great with an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/unstoppable-kohli-hits-34th-odi-ton-takes-india-to-3036-32131" target="_blank">unbeaten 160 off 159 balls</a> on a challenging surface, propelling India to 303 for six.

It was the 34th ODI hundred for the Indian captain, who is now 15 shy of Sachin Tendulkar&#39;s mark of 49.

Kohli has been simply unstoppable in the 50-over format of late and today&#39;s match-winning effort was his fourth three-figure score in the last six ODIs. It was also his second hundred of the series and third of the tour.

While most Indian batsmen struggled after South Africa opted to bowl, Kohli made batting look easy. Shikhar Dhawan too stood out with a fluent 76 off 63 balls.

South Africa started the chase on a promising note with captain Aiden Markram (32) and JP Duminy (51) sharing a 78-run stand for the second wicket.

But most of their runs came against the pacers and when Indian spinners got into the act, it was a familiar story as South Africa surrendered to Yuzvendra Chahal (4/46) and Kuldeep Yadav (4/23) to end way behind at 170 all out in 40 overs.

The South African batsmen failed to pick India&#39;s wily wrist-spinners, as was the case in the first two ODIs.

The slide began with the fall of Markram, who was stumped by MS Dhoni after getting beaten by a flighted delivery from Yadav.

It happened to be Dhoni&#39;s 400th dismissal in ODIs as he became only the fourth wicket-keeper to reach that milestone in ODIs.

Not reading the spinners led to South African batsmen being defensive which pushed the run-rate up. From a healthy 79 for one in the 17th over, the hosts were reduced to 129 for five in the 33rd over, ending all their hopes of a recovery.

Earlier, Kohli scored the highest individual score by an Indian batsman against South Africa in South Africa, going past Sourav Ganguly?s 127 at Johannesburg in 2001. It was also Kohli?s second-highest ODI score after 183 against Pakistan in 2012.

Such was the nature of his innings that he scored only 60 runs through boundaries while he had to run hard for the remaining 100. In total, he collected 12 fours and two sixes.

He also became the first Indian batsman to score a hundred against South Africa at Newlands. Only Ganguly previously had an ODI century at this ground, but that came against Kenya in March 2003. 
 
Records kept tumbling as his innings progressed. He also became the Indian ODI captain with most hundreds to his name.

He went past Ganguly again, who has 11 centuries in 142 innings. Kohli now boasts of 12 hundreds as skipper but in only 43 innings.

Kohli, with 318 runs in this series so far, now also has the most runs for a visiting batsman in a bilateral ODI series against South Africa in South Africa. Ricky Ponting, with 283 runs in 2001-02, was the previous best.

In terms of balls faced, it was the joint-slowest hundred for Kohli, after he faced 119 balls against Pakistan at Adelaide in 2015. But in doing so, Kohli put on 140 runs with Dhawan for the second wicket.

The Proteas made three changes to their playing eleven after the Centurion defeat. Lungi Ngidi and Heinrich Klaasen were handed their ODI debuts and came in for Morne Morkel and injured Quinton de Kock, respectively.

Andile Phehlukwayo was included ahead of Tabraiz Shamsi as the hosts played only full-time spinner. India fielded an unchanged side again.

Rohit Sharma (0) continued his poor run in this ODI series and was caught behind off the sixth ball he faced. The three-time ODI double-centurion now averages 12.10 in 10 innings on South African soil and has an ODI high score of only 23.

Kohli (on 0*) survived an early lbw shout off Kagiso Rabada (1-54) in the third over. He immediately asked for DRS review, which showed an inside edge and the decision was overturned.

Dhawan and Kohli then came together, and piled on the runs, almost continuing from where they had left off in the previous match.

Momentarily though, India?s run-rate dipped below 5/over as Chris Morris (1-45) exerted some control over proceedings. In the meantime, Dhawan scored his 25th ODI half-century off 42 balls and took his team past 100 in the 18th over.

Dhawan accelerated after reaching his mark, and scored 26 runs off next 21 balls he faced. Part of the reason had to do with Imran Tahir?s (1-52) inclusion into the attack as Dhawan-Kohli pairing milked his bowling for runs.

JP Duminy (2-60) then provided the breakthrough. In fact, it was stand-in skipper Markram who did all the hard work and took a stunning diving catch to dismiss Dhawan who had danced down to the part-timer.

South Africa then triggered a mini-collapse in the middle order as India lost three wickets for 48 runs.

MS Dhoni (10) then stemmed the down-curve and added 40 runs with Kohli.

Kedar Jadhav (1) played a nothing shot and edged behind off Phehlukwayo (1-42) as India were reduced to 236 for six in the 43rd over.

The skipper then found a stable partner in Bhuvneshwar Kumar (16 not out) and the duo added 63 runs off only 43 balls for the seventh wicket.&nbsp;

Kohli hit his 34th ODI hundred; he is now 15 shy of Sachin Tendulkar's 49

Virat Kohli's masterclass and a pouncing pack of wrist-spinners ensured a 124-run win for India in the third ODI here, giving the visitors an unassailable 3-0 lead and taking them one step closer to a maiden series triumph in South Africa. Kohli reaffirmed his status as an ODI great with an unbeaten 160 off 159 balls on a challenging surface, propelling India to 303 for six. It was the 34th ODI hundred for the Indian captain, who is now 15 shy of Sachin Tendulkar's mark of 49. Kohli has been simply unstoppable in the 50-over format of late and today's match-winning effort was his fourth three-figure score in the last six ODIs. It was also his second hundred of the series and third of the tour. While most Indian batsmen struggled after South Africa opted to bowl, Kohli made batting look easy. Shikhar Dhawan too stood out with a fluent 76 off 63 balls. South Africa started the chase on a promising note with captain Aiden Markram (32) and JP Duminy (51) sharing a 78-run stand for the second wicket. But most of their runs came against the pacers and when Indian spinners got into the act, it was a familiar story as South Africa surrendered to Yuzvendra Chahal (4/46) and Kuldeep Yadav (4/23) to end way behind at 170 all out in 40 overs. The South African batsmen failed to pick India's wily wrist-spinners, as was the case in the first two ODIs. The slide began with the fall of Markram, who was stumped by MS Dhoni after getting beaten by a flighted delivery from Yadav. It happened to be Dhoni's 400th dismissal in ODIs as he became only the fourth wicket-keeper to reach that milestone in ODIs. Not reading the spinners led to South African batsmen being defensive which pushed the run-rate up. From a healthy 79 for one in the 17th over, the hosts were reduced to 129 for five in the 33rd over, ending all their hopes of a recovery. Earlier, Kohli scored the highest individual score by an Indian batsman against South Africa in South Africa, going past Sourav Ganguly?s 127 at Johannesburg in 2001. It was also Kohli?s second-highest ODI score after 183 against Pakistan in 2012. Such was the nature of his innings that he scored only 60 runs through boundaries while he had to run hard for the remaining 100. In total, he collected 12 fours and two sixes. He also became the first Indian batsman to score a hundred against South Africa at Newlands. Only Ganguly previously had an ODI century at this ground, but that came against Kenya in March 2003. Records kept tumbling as his innings progressed. He also became the Indian ODI captain with most hundreds to his name. He went past Ganguly again, who has 11 centuries in 142 innings. Kohli now boasts of 12 hundreds as skipper but in only 43 innings. Kohli, with 318 runs in this series so far, now also has the most runs for a visiting batsman in a bilateral ODI series against South Africa in South Africa. Ricky Ponting, with 283 runs in 2001-02, was the previous best. In terms of balls faced, it was the joint-slowest hundred for Kohli, after he faced 119 balls against Pakistan at Adelaide in 2015. But in doing so, Kohli put on 140 runs with Dhawan for the second wicket. The Proteas made three changes to their playing eleven after the Centurion defeat. Lungi Ngidi and Heinrich Klaasen were handed their ODI debuts and came in for Morne Morkel and injured Quinton de Kock, respectively. Andile Phehlukwayo was included ahead of Tabraiz Shamsi as the hosts played only full-time spinner. India fielded an unchanged side again. Rohit Sharma (0) continued his poor run in this ODI series and was caught behind off the sixth ball he faced. The three-time ODI double-centurion now averages 12.10 in 10 innings on South African soil and has an ODI high score of only 23. Kohli (on 0*) survived an early lbw shout off Kagiso Rabada (1-54) in the third over. He immediately asked for DRS review, which showed an inside edge and the decision was overturned. Dhawan and Kohli then came together, and piled on the runs, almost continuing from where they had left off in the previous match. Momentarily though, India?s run-rate dipped below 5/over as Chris Morris (1-45) exerted some control over proceedings. In the meantime, Dhawan scored his 25th ODI half-century off 42 balls and took his team past 100 in the 18th over. Dhawan accelerated after reaching his mark, and scored 26 runs off next 21 balls he faced. Part of the reason had to do with Imran Tahir?s (1-52) inclusion into the attack as Dhawan-Kohli pairing milked his bowling for runs. JP Duminy (2-60) then provided the breakthrough. In fact, it was stand-in skipper Markram who did all the hard work and took a stunning diving catch to dismiss Dhawan who had danced down to the part-timer. South Africa then triggered a mini-collapse in the middle order as India lost three wickets for 48 runs. MS Dhoni (10) then stemmed the down-curve and added 40 runs with Kohli. Kedar Jadhav (1) played a nothing shot and edged behind off Phehlukwayo (1-42) as India were reduced to 236 for six in the 43rd over. The skipper then found a stable partner in Bhuvneshwar Kumar (16 not out) and the duo added 63 runs off only 43 balls for the seventh wicket.

3rd ODI: India beat South Africa by 124 runs, take unassailable 3-0 lead

The selection committee of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet again ignored star spinners Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, while announcing India&#39;s ODI squad for South Africa.&nbsp;

The selectors decided to persist with the young wrist-spinning duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal along with left-arm orthodox Axar Patel.

The two last featured in the limited-overs team during India&rsquo;s tour of the West Indies, soon after the June ICC Champions Trophy.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, left paceman Umesh Yadav also did not find any place in the squad and is replaced by Mohammed Shami. &nbsp;

Shami last played an ODI against Australia in September 2017.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul, whose performance cannot be doubted if considered the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka, was also left out.&nbsp;

Middle-order batsman Kedar Jadhav and speedster Shardul Thakur have made a comeback into the Indian team.&nbsp;

Skipper Virat Kohli, who rested for the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka, will lead the side.

Ahead of the ODIs, India will start their tour with the three-Test series against the Proteas, starting January 5 in Capetown while the second (January 13-17) and third (January 24-28) Tests will be played in Centurion and Johannesburg, respectively.

The ODI series starts from February 1 in Durban, four days after the conclusion of the third Test. The second ODI will be played in Centurion on February 4, the third in Cape Town on February 7, while the fourth and fifth ODIs will be held on February 10 and 13 in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth respectively.

The final ODI will be played in Centurion on February 16, followed by a three-match T20I series concluding on February 24.

The two last featured in the limited-overs team during India?s tour of West Indies

The selection committee of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet again ignored star spinners Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin, while announcing India's ODI squad for South Africa. The selectors decided to persist with the young wrist-spinning duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal along with left-arm orthodox Axar Patel. The two last featured in the limited-overs team during India’s tour of the West Indies, soon after the June ICC Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, left paceman Umesh Yadav also did not find any place in the squad and is replaced by Mohammed Shami. Shami last played an ODI against Australia in September 2017. Meanwhile, KL Rahul, whose performance cannot be doubted if considered the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka, was also left out. Middle-order batsman Kedar Jadhav and speedster Shardul Thakur have made a comeback into the Indian team. Skipper Virat Kohli, who rested for the ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka, will lead the side. Ahead of the ODIs, India will start their tour with the three-Test series against the Proteas, starting January 5 in Capetown while the second (January 13-17) and third (January 24-28) Tests will be played in Centurion and Johannesburg, respectively. The ODI series starts from February 1 in Durban, four days after the conclusion of the third Test. The second ODI will be played in Centurion on February 4, the third in Cape Town on February 7, while the fourth and fifth ODIs will be held on February 10 and 13 in Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth respectively. The final ODI will be played in Centurion on February 16, followed by a three-match T20I series concluding on February 24.

Jadeja, Ashwin not included in India's ODI squad for South Africa

India&#39;s stand-in captain Rohit Sharma has moved two spots up to grab the fifth position among batsmen in the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings.

The Mumbai batsman moved two places up after he scored his third ODI double-century in the recently concluded three-match series against Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

According to an ICC media release, Rohit&#39;s current tally stands at&nbsp;816, after the splendid knock of 208 (not out) in the second ODI. The Indian opener has crossed the 800-point mark for the first time in his career. &nbsp;

However, it&#39;s not Rohit&#39;s career-best ranking as he held No. 3 position last year in February.&nbsp;

Shikhar Dhawan, who was named player of the series, too gained one slot to reach 14th position after aggregating 168 runs including an unbeaten 100 in the third ODI at Visakhapatnam.&nbsp;

Dhawan had slammed 68 in the second match, figuring in a 115-run opening stand with Sharma.

Skipper Virat Kohli, who rested himself from the series as he recently got married to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, still leads the batting chart with 876 points. &nbsp;

For Indian bowlers, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal moved up 23 positions to take 28th place after finishing with six wickets in the series. &nbsp;

Likewise, Kuldeep Yadav has also moved up 16 places to take 56th slot.&nbsp;

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who replicated Kapil Dev&#39;s 31-year-old feat, has gained 10 slots to reach a career-best 45th position.

Rohit played a splendid knock of 208 (not out) in the second ODI against Sri Lanka

India's stand-in captain Rohit Sharma has moved two spots up to grab the fifth position among batsmen in the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings. The Mumbai batsman moved two places up after he scored his third ODI double-century in the recently concluded three-match series against Sri Lanka. According to an ICC media release, Rohit's current tally stands at 816, after the splendid knock of 208 (not out) in the second ODI. The Indian opener has crossed the 800-point mark for the first time in his career. However, it's not Rohit's career-best ranking as he held No. 3 position last year in February. Shikhar Dhawan, who was named player of the series, too gained one slot to reach 14th position after aggregating 168 runs including an unbeaten 100 in the third ODI at Visakhapatnam. Dhawan had slammed 68 in the second match, figuring in a 115-run opening stand with Sharma. Skipper Virat Kohli, who rested himself from the series as he recently got married to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, still leads the batting chart with 876 points. For Indian bowlers, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal moved up 23 positions to take 28th place after finishing with six wickets in the series. Likewise, Kuldeep Yadav has also moved up 16 places to take 56th slot. All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who replicated Kapil Dev's 31-year-old feat, has gained 10 slots to reach a career-best 45th position.

Rohit Sharma grabs 5th position in ICC ODI rankings

India on Sunday bowled out visitors Sri Lanka for mere 215 runs as the hosts took the upper hand in the third and final ODI in Visakhapatnam.

At 136-1, Sri Lanka looked set to post a big total, but their plan was damaged by the Indian bowlers, especially by Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav with both of them taking three wickets each.&nbsp;

After Danushka Gunathilaka dismissal, Upul Tharanga and Sadeera Samarawickrama put up a 121-run partnership, after which the latter departed for 42 runs.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Tharanga fell just 5 runs short of his century and departed for 95 runs.

Indian cricket team&#39;s stand-in captain Rohit Sharma had won the toss and opted to bowl first in the series decider at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

For India, Kuldeep Yadav replaced Washington Sundar in the playing XI, while Sadeera Samarawickrama replaced Lahiru Thirimanne for Sri Lanka.

In the 2nd ODI, Rohit Sharma&#39;s unbeaten 208 helped the hosts level the series with 1-1, after they put up a total of 392-4, and in turn, restricted Sri Lanka to 251-8 in 50 overs.

India has not lost a series at home since their loss to South Africa in October 2015.

At 136-1, Sri Lanka looked set to post a big total, but their plan was damaged by the Indian bowlers

India on Sunday bowled out visitors Sri Lanka for mere 215 runs as the hosts took the upper hand in the third and final ODI in Visakhapatnam. At 136-1, Sri Lanka looked set to post a big total, but their plan was damaged by the Indian bowlers, especially by Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav with both of them taking three wickets each. After Danushka Gunathilaka dismissal, Upul Tharanga and Sadeera Samarawickrama put up a 121-run partnership, after which the latter departed for 42 runs. Meanwhile, Tharanga fell just 5 runs short of his century and departed for 95 runs. Indian cricket team's stand-in captain Rohit Sharma had won the toss and opted to bowl first in the series decider at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. For India, Kuldeep Yadav replaced Washington Sundar in the playing XI, while Sadeera Samarawickrama replaced Lahiru Thirimanne for Sri Lanka. In the 2nd ODI, Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 208 helped the hosts level the series with 1-1, after they put up a total of 392-4, and in turn, restricted Sri Lanka to 251-8 in 50 overs. India has not lost a series at home since their loss to South Africa in October 2015.

Chahal, Kuldeep's bowling spell restrict Sri Lanka to 215 in 3rd ODI

Indian cricket team&#39;s stand-in captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first for the third and final ODI at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

For India, Kuldeep Yadav replaced Washington Sundar in the playing XI, while Sadeera Samarawickrama replaced Lahiru Thirimanne for Sri Lanka.

In the 2nd ODI, Rohit Sharma&#39;s unbeaten 208 helped the hosts level the series with 1-1, after they put up a total of 392-4, and in turn, restricted Sri Lanka to 251-8 in 50 overs.

India has not lost a series at home since their loss to South Africa in October 2015.

Kuldeep Yadav replaced Washington Sundar in the Indian playing XI

Indian cricket team's stand-in captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first for the third and final ODI at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. For India, Kuldeep Yadav replaced Washington Sundar in the playing XI, while Sadeera Samarawickrama replaced Lahiru Thirimanne for Sri Lanka. In the 2nd ODI, Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 208 helped the hosts level the series with 1-1, after they put up a total of 392-4, and in turn, restricted Sri Lanka to 251-8 in 50 overs. India has not lost a series at home since their loss to South Africa in October 2015.

3rd ODI: India wins toss, to bowl first in series decider against Sri Lanka

The first ODI against Sri Lanka has not begun well for the Indian team.&nbsp;

India&#39;s batting line-up crumbled against the Sri Lankan attack -- with the Indians being bowled out for a measly 112.&nbsp;

The first ODI against Sri Lanka was being played at the picturesque HPCA cricket stadium in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh.&nbsp;

But the cold and the pitch conditions were too much for the Indians.&nbsp;

Former captain MS Dhoni fought a lone battle, scoring 65.&nbsp;

The rest of the batting lineup struggled to get to two figures.

Stand-in captain Rohit Sharma -- Virat Kohli is being rested -- was caught on 2.&nbsp;

There were four ducks -- Dhawan, Karthik, Kumar, and Bumrah.&nbsp;

Perhaps what summed it up best was the fact that after Dhoni, the second-highest scorer (19) was Kuldeep Yadav -- a bowler.&nbsp;

The only other person who got to two figures (10) was Pandya.&nbsp;

The first ODI against Sri Lanka has not begun well for the Indian team. India's batting line-up crumbled against the Sri Lankan attack -- with the Indians being bowled out for a measly 112. The first ODI against Sri Lanka was being played at the picturesque HPCA cricket stadium in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. But the cold and the pitch conditions were too much for the Indians. Former captain MS Dhoni fought a lone battle, scoring 65. The rest of the batting lineup struggled to get to two figures. Stand-in captain Rohit Sharma -- Virat Kohli is being rested -- was caught on 2. There were four ducks -- Dhawan, Karthik, Kumar, and Bumrah. Perhaps what summed it up best was the fact that after Dhoni, the second-highest scorer (19) was Kuldeep Yadav -- a bowler. The only other person who got to two figures (10) was Pandya.

1st ODI: India crumble, all out for 112 against Sri Lanka

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