Rohit Sharma’s 92 and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s half-century anchor India after early blows, while Rahul’s unbeaten century and a late flourish lift the hosts to a formidable total in the series decider.
New Chandigarh, Oct 2026: KL Rahul produced a magnificent unbeaten 129 off 87 deliveries, while Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad struck half-centuries as India recovered from an early collapse to post 351/7 in the third and final ODI against the West Indies at the New PCA Stadium on Saturday.
India’s innings began disastrously as Jayden Seales removed Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli in the opening three overs, reducing the hosts to 4/2. However, Rohit and Gaikwad rebuilt the innings with a 137-run partnership, before Rahul took charge in the middle and death overs to guide India past the 350-run mark.
Rahul, playing his first match of the series, struck 10 fours and six sixes in a career-best ODI score. His innings provided the foundation for a strong finish, with India scoring 105 runs in the final 10 overs.
For the West Indies, Seales claimed three wickets for 62 runs, while Keemo Paul took two for 71. The visitors, however, were left frustrated by missed opportunities in the field, with Gaikwad and Rahul benefiting from multiple dropped catches.
After being asked to bat, India suffered an early setback when Seales dismissed Gill for one in the second over, with the opener caught down the leg side. Gill had scored a century and a double century in the first two matches.
Kohli’s stay was even shorter. Beaten while attempting a flick against Seales, he saw the ball hold its line and disturb the middle stump, departing for a duck.
Rohit and Gaikwad initially adopted a cautious approach, taking India to 28/2 at the end of the Powerplay. Rohit survived an lbw appeal and a review by the West Indies, with the technology showing the delivery would have missed the stumps.
The experienced opener gradually shifted gears after the first 10 overs, attacking Paul and Alzarri Joseph with a series of boundaries. During his innings, Rohit also became the fastest batter to reach 10,000 ODI runs as an opener, achieving the milestone in 202 innings.
Gaikwad made the most of his reprieves, using his timing and power to find the boundary regularly. He reached his half-century in the 27th over, while Rohit brought up his fifty off 58 balls. Their partnership crossed 100 runs as Rohit struck Vitel Lawes for a six.
Lawes endured a difficult outing, conceding 54 runs in five overs before leaving the field with a reported left calf problem.
Rohit narrowly missed a century when he top-edged a pull off Paul for 92 from 85 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes. Jewel Andrew completed a diving catch at deep mid-wicket. Seales then dismissed Gaikwad for 57 off 69 deliveries, ending his resistance when a rising delivery produced a catch at backward point.
At 160/4, India needed another substantial partnership, and Rahul provided it. He rotated the strike patiently while Naman Dhir supplied momentum with attacking strokes. Dhir struck his first international boundaries off Seales and later hit sixes against Joseph and Gudakesh Motie.
The pair added 65 runs before Dhir chipped a delivery from Motie to cover, departing for 30 off 21 balls. By then, Rahul had completed his half-century in 41 deliveries.
Nitish Kumar Reddy struggled to accelerate and was caught behind off Paul for nine. Debutant Anshul Kamboj then injected energy into the innings, hitting two sixes in one over against Motie. However, a misunderstanding with Rahul resulted in Kamboj being run out for 17 off nine balls.
With Gurnoor Brar and Kamboj having helped keep the scoreboard moving, Rahul took control of the closing overs. He reached his ninth ODI century in 80 balls, guiding a short delivery from Seales over fine leg in the 49th over. Rahul removed his helmet and spread his arms in celebration before receiving congratulations from Brar.
The innings also contributed to a series record, with nine individual centuries scored across the three-match contest, the most in a three-match ODI series.
Rahul continued his assault after reaching three figures, lofting Seales for six and punishing two full tosses from Paul over the leg side. He finished the innings with a heave through mid-wicket for two, helping India collect 105 runs from the final 60 deliveries.
Brief scores: India 351/7 in 50 overs (KL Rahul 129 not out, Rohit Sharma 92, Ruturaj Gaikwad 57; Jayden Seales 3/62, Keemo Paul 2/71) against West Indies.
