West Indies stun India with record chase as Hope’s 162 outshines Rahul’s 129

Shai Hope’s unbeaten 162 powers West Indies to a stunning five-wicket win after India’s 351 for 7, giving the visitors their highest successful ODI chase and exposing India’s bowling frailties

NEW CHANDIGARH: West Indies produced a stunning batting masterclass on Saturday, chasing down India’s imposing 352-run target with five wickets and 10 balls to spare to complete their highest successful run chase in ODI cricket.

Captain Shai Hope led the remarkable pursuit with a magnificent unbeaten 162 off 143 balls, overshadowing KL Rahul’s career-best 129 not out as West Indies reached 352 for five in 48.2 overs.

The victory capped a remarkable turnaround for West Indies, who had suffered the heartbreak of losing despite scoring 405 in the previous ODI. This time, they responded with a chase that combined patience, power and remarkable composure.

India appeared to have set a formidable total after being asked to bat first. They were in serious trouble at 4 for 2 after Jayden Seales dismissed Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in successive deliveries.

But Rohit Sharma and Rahul rebuilt the innings brilliantly. Rohit struck 92 off 85 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes, while Rahul remained unbeaten on 129 from just 87 deliveries, smashing 10 fours and six sixes.

Ruturaj Gaikwad added 57, while late contributions from Naman Dhir (30) and debutant Anshul Kamboj (17) helped India reach 351 for seven.

Rahul accelerated dramatically at the finish, scoring 42 from his final 12 balls as India plundered 50 runs from the last three overs.

Yet the imposing total proved insufficient.

West Indies made an explosive start through Amir Jangoo, who struck 67 off 56 balls, and Hope. The pair added 109 for the second wicket to put the chase firmly on track.

Jangoo, who has been one of the revelations of the series, was eventually run out for 67, ending his outstanding series with 239 runs at a strike rate of 136.

Hope, however, remained the constant threat. He brought up his 21st ODI century and continued to control the chase despite struggling with his fitness after keeping wicket for the entire Indian innings. At one stage, he went 42 balls without a boundary, but his ability to pace the innings kept West Indies comfortably within reach.

Keemo Paul provided crucial support with an aggressive 44 off 35 balls, while Gudakesh Motie finished unbeaten on 19.

India were also hurt by missed opportunities in the field, with several catches going down during a chase that increasingly slipped away from them.

West Indies survived another twist when Sherfane Rutherford, on 24, was given out following a controversial decision. The DRS review failed to overturn the on-field decision.

With 146 needed from the final 20 overs and seven wickets in hand, West Indies remained firmly in control.

Hope then shifted gears at the decisive stage. After patiently navigating the middle overs, he unleashed a series of boundaries and finished the chase in style, remaining unbeaten on 162 from 143 balls with 17 fours and three sixes.

The victory was made easier by India’s late bowling problems. A slow over rate meant India had to bowl the final four overs with an additional fielder inside the circle, while West Indies capitalised on loose deliveries and mounting pressure.

Jayden Seales was India’s biggest problem early in the innings, finishing with three wickets for 62 runs, while Keemo Paul claimed two.

But India’s depleted bowling attack, without Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, struggled to contain a West Indies side that refused to panic despite the enormous target.

The result completed one of the most remarkable successful chases in West Indies ODI history and turned what looked like another India batting triumph into a spectacular West Indies victory.