On This Day — Virat Kohli’s Masterclass Guides India to 59-Run Win Over West Indies in Port of Spain

On 11 August 2019, the story was no different as India faced the West Indies in the second ODI of the series at Port of Spain. Kohli once again rose to the occasion with a brilliant century that powered India to a convincing 59-run win under the DLS method. It was a clinical performance that left the fans delighted and reminded everyone why Kohli was the heartbeat of the Indian batting lineup at the time.

India vs West Indies: 2nd ODI

On August 11, 2019, at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, India put on a masterclass in the second ODI against the West Indies, blending powerful batting with disciplined bowling. Winning the toss, India chose to bat first on a pitch that gave bowlers some early help but turned batsman-friendly for those who settled in. The innings kicked off with a stumble when Sheldon Cottrell got Shikhar Dhawan lbw for 2 runs off 3 balls in the first over. West Indies used a review to confirm the call, leaving India at 2 for 1 and forcing a careful start.

Rohit Sharma walked in to join captain Virat Kohli, and the two set about steadying the ship. They put together 74 runs for the second wicket, but it was a slow build against some tight bowling. Sharma, usually a free-scoring batsman, held back, making 18 runs off 34 balls with two fours. His stay ended in the 16th over when Roston Chase got him to miscue and Nicholas Pooran grabbed a sharp catch at midwicket. At 76 for 2, India needed someone to take charge and Kohli delivered in style.

Kohli took control with a mix of grit and finesse, playing the good balls with respect and pouncing on anything loose. By the end of the powerplay overs, India were at 55 for 1 with Kohli looking rock-solid. He reached his fifty off 57 balls, stroking seven clean boundaries, and kept the runs flowing. Rishabh Pant came in next but couldn’t find his groove. He scratched out 20 runs off 35 balls with two fours before Carlos Brathwaite bowled him in the 23rd over with a ball that snuck through his defenses. At 101 for 3, India were in a spot, but Shreyas Iyer stepped up to turn things around.

Iyer, playing just his 10th ODI, showed nerves of steel, building a game-changing 125-run stand with Kohli for the fourth wicket. Kohli was the main man, cruising to a century off 112 balls with 10 fours and a six. His 42nd ODI ton was a display of pure class, especially against a West Indies side he loved to dominate. Iyer played the perfect partner, keeping the scoreboard ticking with smart singles and picking his moments to attack. He brought up his fifty off 49 balls with four fours and later cracked a six to show his flair. Their partnership took India past 150 in the 32nd over and 200 in the 39th, holding a run rate above 5 an over. They worked together like a well-oiled machine, finding gaps and cashing in on loose balls to keep West Indies’ bowlers on edge.

Kohli’s epic innings ended in the 42nd over when he was caught by Kemar Roach off Brathwaite for 120 off 125 balls. His exit at 226 for 4 put a brief dent in India’s momentum. Iyer kept things moving, pushing India toward a big score. Kedar Jadhav came in and chipped in with quick runs, making 16 off 14 balls with two fours before a mix-up saw him run out in the 47th over. Iyer followed soon after being bowled by Jason Holder for 71 off 68 balls, his innings packed with five fours and a six.

His knock kept India on track for a strong total. Ravindra Jadeja sent up the order and added an unbeaten 16 off 16 balls with a four, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar managed 1 before Brathwaite got him. Mohammed Shami finished with an unbeaten 3 off 5 balls as India wrapped up at 279 for 7 in 50 overs. West Indies gave away 12 extras, including 9 wides and 2 no-balls, showing their bowling wasn’t always on point.

West Indies’ bowlers had their moments but struggled for consistency. Carlos Brathwaite was the standout, grabbing 3 wickets for 53 runs in 10 overs, taking out Kohli and Pant. Sheldon Cottrell struck early, ending with 1 for 49, while Roston Chase kept things tight, taking 1 for 37 in 10 overs. Jason Holder got Iyer finishing with 1 for 53, but Kemar Roach (0 for 54) and Oshane Thomas (0 for 32) went for plenty without taking wickets. Even with Chase’s tidy spell, West Indies couldn’t stop India’s middle order from building a hefty total.

Chasing a rain-adjusted target of 270 in 46 overs, West Indies needed to start strong. Openers Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis looked good early, putting on 45 runs for the first wicket. Gayle, in his 300th ODI wanted to go big but got pinned lbw by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 10th over for 11 off 24 balls with one four. A review didn’t save him from leaving the West Indies at 45 for 1. Shai Hope joined Lewis but couldn’t handle the moving ball, making just 5 off 10 balls before Khaleel Ahmed bowled him in the 13th over. At 52 for 2, West Indies were in trouble.

Evin Lewis took on the anchor role, playing with smart aggression. He reached his fifty off 66 balls with six fours and a six, keeping West Indies in the fight. Shimron Hetmyer gave him support, scoring a quick 18 off 20 balls with two fours, but his attacking style got him caught by Kohli off Kuldeep Yadav in the 18th over. At 92 for 3, West Indies hit 100 in the 21st over with Lewis looking set to take it deep. Nicholas Pooran came in, and the two added 56 runs for the fourth wicket, giving West Indies a glimmer of hope. Pooran played with ease, scoring 42 off 52 balls with four fours and a six while Lewis kept finding the gaps.

The game shifted in the 28th over when Kuldeep got Lewis for 65 off 80 balls, caught by Kohli. At 148 for 4, West Indies leaned on Pooran and Roston Chase, who put on 31 runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar then landed a killer blow in the 35th over, getting Pooran (caught by Kohli for his third catch) and Chase (caught and bowled for 18 off 23 balls). At 179 for 6 West Indies were falling apart. Carlos Brathwaite went for a duck, caught by Mohammed Shami off Ravindra Jadeja and Kemar Roach was bowled by Bhuvneshwar for 0 in the 37th over.

Sheldon Cottrell fought back late, smashing 17 off 18 balls with two fours and a six, but Shami stopped him in the 42nd over, caught by Jadeja. Shami finished things off by trapping Oshane Thomas lbw for a duck, bowling the West Indies out for 210 in 42 overs. India gave away 21 extras, including 11 wides and 1 no-ball, but it didn’t hurt their commanding performance. India’s bowlers were on fire, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was brilliant with 4 wickets for 31 runs in 8 overs, ripping through the middle order. Mohammed Shami backed him up with 2 wickets for 39 runs while Kuldeep Yadav took 2 for 59, troubling batsmen with his spin. Ravindra Jadeja (1 for 15) and Khaleel Ahmed (1 for 32) each grabbed a wicket, making sure West Indies never got comfortable.

Virat Kohli’s 120 off 125 balls was the heart of India’s innings, showing his knack for reading the game and building partnerships. Shreyas Iyer’s 71 off 68 balls proved he’s a middle-order force, his stand with Kohli setting a tough target. For the West Indies, Evin Lewis’ 65 and Nicholas Pooran’s 42 kept them in it for a while, but their exits sparked a collapse. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 4 for 31 was the game-changer, his tight lines breaking the West Indies’ spirit. India’s smart batting and relentless bowling overwhelmed the West Indies.

The rain-adjusted target of 270 in 46 overs was too much, and West Indies buckled. This 59-run win showed India’s depth and adaptability, locking in their series dominance. India’s game plan was spot-on. Kohli’s pacing and Iyer’s cool-headedness turned a shaky start into a big total. Bhuvneshwar’s precision and Shami’s pace kept the West Indies under pressure while Kuldeep’s spin and Jadeja’s tight bowling sealed the deal. West Indies had their moments, especially through Lewis and Pooran, but couldn’t match India’s intensity. The match highlighted India’s ability to handle tough conditions, from a tricky pitch to a rain-affected chas,e securing a convincing victory.