Rohit Sharma marked his first match as full-time limited-overs skipper with a brilliant 60-run knock as India defeated West Indies by six wickets in the first ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

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India were playing their 1000th ODI game wearing a black arm band to pay their tribute to late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who died early on Sunday. 

Choosing to bowl first, India managed to bundle out Kieron Pollard and co for a below-par 176 in 43.5 overs. Spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal (4/49 in 9.5 overs) and Washington Sundar (3/30 in 9 overs), shared seven wickets amongst themselves. Led by skipper Rohit Sharma’s 60 off 51 balls, the Men in Blue chased the total in 28 overs. 

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Sharma and a young Ishan Kishan opened the batting for India. They stitched a 84-run stand at the top before the former was dismissed leg before wicket. Kishan scored 28 runs off 36 balls. Virat Kohli started with two boundaries but was holed out in the deep while Rishabh Pant was unfortunately run-out at the non-striker’s end.

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After a brief middle-order wobble, Suryakumar Yadav (34) and debutant Deepak Hooda (26) remained unbeaten, adding 62 runs, to take the team home.

In the first innings, Chahal and Sundar wreaked havoc on the slow track. The only significant contribution came from Jason Holder (57; 4×6) and Fabian Allen (29), whose 78-run stand for the eighth-wicket helped the team go past the 160-run mark.

The second ODI will be played at the same venue on February 9.