Shai Hope's Unbeaten 162 Powers West Indies to Record 352-Run Chase Against India

West Indies produced one of the most impressive run chases in their ODI history, defeating India by five wickets after successfully chasing 352 in the third and final ODI at New Chandigarh.

Shai Hope was the architect of the remarkable victory. After keeping wickets for the entire Indian innings, the West Indies captain opened the chase and remained unbeaten on 162 from 143 balls to take his side across the finish line with 10 deliveries remaining.

India had appeared to set an imposing target after KL Rahul struck an unbeaten 129, but West Indies responded with their highest successful ODI chase and ended the series on a winning note.

India Recover From Early Collapse

India's innings began in difficult fashion after they chose to bat first. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli were both dismissed inside the opening three overs, leaving the hosts in early trouble.

Gill fell for just one, while Kohli departed without scoring as Jayden Seales struck twice in the same over. India were suddenly 28/2 after 11 overs and needed a substantial partnership to rebuild the innings.

Rohit Sharma and Ruturaj Gaikwad responded patiently before gradually increasing the scoring rate. Rohit moved through the gears and began finding the boundary regularly, while Gaikwad survived several opportunities in the field.

Rohit and Gaikwad Rebuild the Innings

Rohit brought up his half-century and continued attacking, giving India the momentum they needed after the early wickets. Gaikwad also reached fifty, with his aggressive strokeplay helping India maintain a strong scoring rate.

Rohit appeared on course for another ODI century but fell for 92 when he mistimed a pull. His dismissal brought KL Rahul to the crease with India still needing another major partnership to reach a competitive total.

KL Rahul Produces a Stunning Finish

Rahul initially played the role of stabiliser before launching an extraordinary assault during the final stages of the innings. He received valuable support from Naman Dhir, although Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy could not convert their starts into substantial scores.

With the lower order around him, Rahul took responsibility for maximising India's total. He remained unbeaten and ensured that India crossed 350 for another imposing ODI score.

Rahul accelerated dramatically in the final two overs. He struck four sixes and a four during the closing stages to finish unbeaten on 129 from 104 deliveries, including 16 boundaries.

India eventually reached 351/7 from their 50 overs, giving West Indies a daunting target of 352.

West Indies Make a Flying Start

West Indies showed immediately that they were not intimidated by the target. John Campbell attacked from the first over, while Hope quickly found boundaries against debutant Anshul Kamboj.

The visitors raced to 33 without loss after only three overs, putting India's bowlers under early pressure. Mohammed Siraj eventually provided the breakthrough by bowling Campbell.

However, the wicket did not slow the chase. Amir Jangoo joined Hope and the pair continued to score freely while avoiding unnecessary risks.

Jangoo Provides the Perfect Support

Jangoo took control of the scoring for a period and completed his third consecutive fifty-plus score of the ODI series. His partnership with Hope became the foundation of West Indies' chase.

The pair added a century partnership and kept the required rate under control. India introduced Kuldeep Yadav and other bowling options, but West Indies remained composed through the middle overs.

Jangoo eventually departed for an impressive 67 after a misfield created the opportunity for India to break the partnership.

Hope Reaches Another ODI Century

With Jangoo gone, Hope took greater responsibility. He continued to rotate the strike while attacking whenever India offered scoring opportunities.

After Sherfane Rutherford was dismissed, Hope reached his 21st ODI century. His innings had already become one of endurance, considering he had spent all 50 overs behind the stumps before opening the West Indies chase.

Hope's century also moved him into elite company. His unbeaten 162 became the highest individual score by a West Indies men's batter in a successful ODI chase, surpassing Brian Lara's previous national record of 153.

West Indies Refuse to Panic

With the target still requiring a significant number of runs, Keemo Paul joined Hope and took responsibility for accelerating the chase. The pair ensured that West Indies entered the final 10 overs needing 81 runs.

India briefly sensed an opportunity when Paul was dismissed attempting an attacking stroke and Kuldeep removed Matthew Forde soon afterwards.

With West Indies suddenly short of recognised batting options, the pressure was back on Hope. Jewel Andrew was unavailable to bat after picking up an injury, making the captain's presence even more important.

Hope Takes Control at the Finish

Hope responded like a captain determined to finish the match himself. He attacked Kuldeep during the spinner's final over, hitting him for a six and a four.

India were also penalised for a slow over rate, meaning an additional fielder had to remain inside the circle. Hope immediately took advantage, finding boundaries against Gurnoor Brar.

The decisive moment came when Kamboj was taken for 22 runs in an over. The surge effectively removed India's remaining hopes of forcing a late collapse.

Record Chase Completed

West Indies reached 352/5 in 48.2 overs, completing their highest successful run chase in men's ODI cricket. Their previous best was 331/5 against Ireland in 2019.

Hope finished unbeaten on 162 from 143 balls, while Jangoo's 67 provided crucial support earlier in the innings.

The victory was completed with 10 balls remaining, giving West Indies a five-wicket win and preventing India from completing a 3-0 series sweep.

Hope's Extraordinary All-Round Effort

Hope's performance was particularly remarkable because of the workload involved. He kept wicket throughout India's 50-over innings before immediately opening the West Indies chase.

Despite battling a physical issue late in the innings, he remained at the crease until the target was reached. His unbeaten 162 was not only the foundation of the chase but also one of the finest individual ODI performances by a West Indies batter in recent years.

India's Series Win Comes With a Warning

India had already secured the three-match series after winning the opening two games, meaning the New Chandigarh match was effectively a dead rubber.

However, the defeat highlighted areas India will need to address as preparations continue for the 2027 ODI World Cup. After setting 351, the hosts were unable to create enough pressure during a chase that initially looked extremely difficult.

West Indies, meanwhile, can take considerable confidence from the result. Their ability to chase such a large target against India, particularly after losing early wickets in previous matches, provided a strong finish to the ODI tour.

A Historic Night for West Indies

The five-wicket victory gave West Indies their first ODI win over India since 2023 and added a historic record to the final match of the series.

Hope's 162* became the defining innings of the contest, while Rahul's 129* ensured that India had still produced a huge total. Ultimately, Hope's composure and West Indies' aggressive approach proved decisive as the visitors chased 352 with remarkable control.