The Rohit Sharma captaincy era got off to the perfect start as a 96-run win in the third and final ODI at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium secured India’s first-ever series whitewash in the format against the West Indies on Friday.   

Chasing an imposing target of 266, the Windies were bundled out for just 196 runs as they failed to breach the 200-run mark for a third consecutive ODI. 

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The top order was dismissed with the score at only 25 in five overs as India inflicted early blows with pace. Deepak Chahar (2-41) struck twice in the fifth over to remove Brandon King (14) and Shamarh Brooks (0). Prasidh Krishna (3-27) then dismissed Darren Bravo (19) who added 43 runs with Nicholas Pooran (34). Krishna also removed Holder (6).

Returning spinner Kuldeep Yadav took 2-51 as the West Indies’ chase ran out of steam despite resistance at the end of the innings.

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Smith (36) threw his bat around to push the score past 100. He hit three fours and three sixes in his 18-ball stay. Joseph (29) and Walsh (13) added 47 runs for the ninth wicket.

Earlier, Shreyas Iyer scored 80 runs off 111 balls and Rishabh Pant hit a quicker 56 off 54 to propel India to 265 all out after the hosts won the toss and chose to bat first.

India made a poor start by losing both Sharma (13) and Virat Kohli (0) in the fourth over. Alzarri Joseph (2-54) dismissed both batters in the space of three deliveries. Sharma was clean bowled while Kohli was caught behind for a two-ball duck.

Odean Smith (1-36) dismissed Shikhar Dhawan to reduce India to 42-3 in 9.3 overs.

But Iyer and Pant then came together for the fourth wicket and added 110 runs. They started slowly and rebuilt the innings with purpose.

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With the middle order clicking for a change, India looked set for a near-300 score. But Pant and Suryakumar Yadav (6) were dismissed in quick succession as India slid to 164-5 in 32.3 overs.

Hayden Walsh took 2-59 as he dismissed both Pant and Iyer.

Washington Sundar (33) and Deepak Chahar (38) added a quick-fire 53 runs off 51 balls for the seventh wicket. Jason Holder (4-34) mopped up the lower order.

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The two teams will now face off in a three-match T20I series, starting February 16, with all three games to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.