India vs Windies | Difficult to find balance without Hardik Pandya, says Virat Kohli

India’s only performer remained their skipper, whose innings of 107 runs was the reason India could cross the 200-run mark, as all other stalwarts failed to score in the third ODI. After MS Dhoni returned to the pavilion for just seven runs Kohli had the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvedra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, and Jasprit Bumrah to build a partnership with. 

Consequently, the pressure got the better of the centurion and he was dismissed soon after. The rest could add only 20 runs following that as India folded 44 runs from the target. Post the match, Kohli pointed out the absence of all-rounders Pandya and Jadhav to bat late for the side. While Pandya is still recovering from the back injury, Jadhav has been included in the side for the remaining two ODIs.

"Look when Hardik Pandya and Kedar both play, we get the extra option. When someone like Hardik is not playing, who gives you both bowling and batting option, it is difficult to get the balance. Kedar comes into the side in the next game, that'll give us the balance and depth in the batting. You will always drift to one side when you don't have the balance. We have to think about the perfect balance we need," said Kohli, reported PTI.

The Indian management decided to exclude Mohammad Shami and KL Rahul for Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah for the remaining ODIs. And while the two ODI specialist bowlers showed what they bring to the table in the first innings, the captain stated that they should have done better after getting Windies into a muddle in the middle. After Shai Hope’s dismissal reduced Windies to 227/8, Ashley Nurse and Kevin Roach’s quick-fire ninth-wicket 56-run partnership made the difference.

"We bowled well, the wicket wasn't offering much in the first 35 overs. In the later half, it became difficult. From 227 for 8 we should've been chasing 250-260, max, but we gave away a little in the last 10 overs and should've closed it out better," Kohli said.