Watch: Mukesh Kumar broke the back of the West Indies batting lineup early in their run-chase of 352 in the third ODI of the series, taking three quick wickets with the new ball yesterday (August 1) at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.

India put up a massive total of 351 after being sent in to bat first by the hosts. Shubman Gill top-scored with 85 and was supported fairly by Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya, all of whom registered fifties as well. In fact, it was India’s highest ODI total against the West Indies in their backyard, and their highest-ever ODI total without an individual century.

West Indies’ highest successful ODI run-chase was when they chased a target of 328 against Ireland in 2019. If they had to win this game, they needed to break a record. They couldn’t in the end, thanks partly to Mukesh’s opening burst where he claimed three wickets to effectively kill the chase inside the first powerplay.

Mukesh made his international debut on this tour, first in Tests and then in ODIs. And in whatever little game time he has got, he has impressed. While the wickets column might have shown just one wicket from the first two ODIs, Mukesh’s excellent control with the new ball aided with swing and seam finally brought him rewards in the third.

He first got Brandon King to edge behind to the wicketkeeper in the first over, followed by getting Kyle Mayers to drag a rising delivery onto the stumps in the third. The last of his wickets was that of West Indies captain Shai Hope, who edged an away-swinging ball to first slip in the seventh over to leave the hosts in a massive spot of bother at 17-3.

In the end, they were bundled out for 151, handing India a 200-run victory and a 2-1 series win.

Watch Mukesh Kumar register his best figures in ODIs with an opening burst of three wickets:

For viewers in India:

Mukesh Kumar is in a hurry to finish things off! Can he convert it into a fifer?#INDvWIAdFreeonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/wWPNTY853m

— FanCode (@FanCode) August 1, 2023

For viewers outside India:

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