More records fell on Wednesday in Visakhapatnam, as India levelled the three match ODI series with the West Indies, winning by 71 runs, having been beaten by 8 wickets in the first game in Chennai.
On the positive side, left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav made history by becoming the first Indian to take two hat-tricks in one day internationals.
His big moment came in the 34th over, beginning with the fourth delivery, bowled to the West Indies opener Shai Hope, who had scored 78 at the time. Hope went for the big hit, failed to get hold of it properly, and was well caught by Virat Kohli on the deep wicket boundary. The batsmen having crossed, his next victim was Jason Holder, who was tempted out of his crease, enabling Risbabh Pant to complete an easy stumping. He then completed his hat-trick of the last ball of the over when he had Alzarri Joseph caught by Kedar Jadhav at second slip.
That gave Yadav a place in the history books, having previously managed the feat against Australia at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 2017. Yadav is only the fourth Indian ever to take a hat-trick in one day internationals, the others being Chetan Sharma in 1987, Kapil Dev in 1991, and Mohammed Shami earlier this year. He also became the first Indian bowler to take an ODI hat-trick against the West Indies.
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga is the only other wrist spinner to take an ODI hat-trick.
A less welcome record though was set by Virat Kohli and Kieron Pollard who became the first captains in an ODI to both be out for a golden duck in the same match.
In fact, it was Pollard who was responsible for Kohli’s dismissal, when, first ball, he induced a top-edge from Kohli’s bat, and Roston Chase completed a fine catch at mid-wicket. The West Indies skipper celebrated wildly, but he soon had the smile wiped off his face when it came to his turn to bat, attempting a cover drive to Mohammed Shami, only to get an inside edge through to wicket keeper Pant.
The two sides meet again for the decider in Cutttack on Sunday, and it remains to be seen what other records might be set in that match.
