Kuldeep four-for trips West Indies up after Greaves' century

Visitors were 135 for 0 in the 20th over but finished with 295 for 7

Innings West Indies 295 for 7 (Greaves 102, Campbell 62, Jangoo 58, Kuldeep 4-40) vs India

Kuldeep Yadav's 4 for 40 on ODI comeback restricted West Indies to 295 despite a 135-run opening stand between Justin Greaves and John Campbell. Greaves went on to score his maiden ODI century, but a collapse of 4 for 22 from overs 31 to 36 broke the back of the West Indies innings. It was only in the 29th over that the visitors' run rate came down to under a run a ball after Greaves took 18 off the second over, bowled by Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Missing Jasprit Bumrah, who is in Japan to represent India in the Asian Games, and Mohammed Siraj, who is perhaps still looking for his best rhythm, India needed a point of difference in the middle overs. Having warmed the bench for the entirety of their last ODI series and having looked off colour in a Test in Sri Lanka, Kuldeep roared back to take four of the first five wickets to fall in Rajkot. His career tally reads 198 wickets at 31.6 balls per wicket, the third-best among spinners who have gone past 175 wickets.

For the first 20 overs or so, India looked like they had no answers for the fourth different opening combination West Indies have tried in the last five ODIs. The tall Greaves drove beautifully against the new ball even if he didn't always get the length to do so. As India experimented with Reddy as opening bowler, Greaves got the kind of headstart you dream of, driving three full balls for four and shovelling a free hit for another, all in the second over.Justin Greaves celebrates his maiden ODI century•AFP/Getty Images

Campbell, who was afforded a sighter or five thanks to Greaves' quick start, attacked Ravindra Jadeja, asked to bowl inside the powerplay for a change, taking a four and two sixes. At 85 for 0 in 10 overs, India had problems aplenty and only Kuldeep to look at. However, debutant Naman Dhir bowled before Kuldeep, probably letting the ball lose its shine before it went to the left-arm wristspinner.

In the 20th over, Kuldeep beat Campbell in the air on the sweep, drawing a low catch for short fine leg. Kuldeep and Jadeja then turned the screws on Keacy Carty, one of the openers in recent times. Against the old ball, though, he got stuck. With the pressure building, Prasidh Krishna came back to get him for 13 off 31 at the start of the 31st over.RelatedHope: 'Playing India in their backyard is always a challenge'

Kohli has 'unfinished business' at his 'last World Cup' in 2027

This is the period when sides look to score quickly before two balls give way to one at the end of the 34th over and an extra fielder goes out at the end of the 40th. This is when Kuldeep put together one of his best recent spells. Shai Hope tried to force the pace, charged Kuldeep, was beaten in the flight, and sliced him to point.

Greaves, who had battled cramps all innings and helplessly watched the slowdown, tried to take risks against Kuldeep after bringing up his hundred. Having played two reverse sweeps for nothing, he tried the regulation one only to be out lbw. Kuldeep had to review the not-out call; it turned out he had bowled just the perfect ball: one that pitched just on middle, didn't exactly turn back in but cut down on its initial angle to be just hitting the top of off. The next one turned, jumped at and dismissed the 19-year-old Jewel Andrew, replacement for Sherfane Rutherford, away to attend to "a personal matter".

At 198 for 5 in the 36th over, West Indies looked like they could fold quickly, but Amir Jangoo and Roston Chase, who survived the hat-trick ball from Kuldeep, arrested the collapse. Jangoo scored 58 off 43 to not only make sure West Indies played out the 50 overs but also gave the bowlers something to bowl at.