The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh witnessed a historic day as the Indian men’s cricket team played its first-ever men’s One Day International at the venue. Previously, the ground had hosted a Test match and a T20I involving the Indian men’s team against Afghanistan and South Africa, alongside four women’s ODIs. During the women’s fixtures, Australia had posted the ground’s previous highest total of 282 runs, a match where India fell short despite scoring 281. Breaking those previous benchmarks, the Indian men’s side put up a commanding total of 351 for 7 against the West Indies.
Having already secured the three-match series with dominant victories in the first two games, Team India entered the fixture with an unassailable lead. For the two-time world champions West Indies, the encounter served as a critical battle to avoid a humiliating 3-0 whitewash. The task ahead of the visitors was monumental, especially considering their historical struggles with run-chases. In the preceding match in Guwahati, the West Indies failed to defend or chase down a record 405 runs. Historically, the Caribbean side has never successfully chased down a target of 350 runs or more in ODI history. Their highest successful run chase remains 327 against Ireland in 2019, while their highest total innings score batting second stands at 389 against England when replying to a 419-run target prior to the ongoing tour of India.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India reached 7 for 351, powered by an unbeaten and magnificent century of 129 runs from Lokesh Rahul. This milestone marks the 45th time India has crossed the 350-run threshold in ODI cricket history. India’s highest-ever ODI total against the West Indies remains 418 for 5, scored on December 8, 2011, in Indore. Following that, India has gone on to post scores in excess of 400 on eight other occasions, including a brilliant 406-run innings earlier in the ongoing series against the same opponents.