The fourth ODI at Dharamsala yesterday started and ended with turbulence for the West Indies. After they decided to pull out of the tour with one ODI, one T20I and three Tests still to go, the Caribbean team, chasing India’s 330 for 6, fuelled by Virat Kohli’s 20th ton, could only manage 271 all out in 48.1 overs to concede the series 2-1.

When the entire Caribbean team accompanied captain Dwayne Bravo to the toss in a show of solidarity over a pay dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board, there was a sense that it is the beginning of some sort of upheaval.  It turned out to be that way as reports coming during the course of the Indian innings confirmed that the game was the last of this tour on account of both players and the WICB failing to reach a consensus.

As a result of the shocking development, Kohli, Suresh Raina and Ajinkya Rahane’s excellent batting efforts were put on the back burner in front of a packed stadium. Against such a backdrop, the idea of a West Indies comeback was highly improbable. The conjecture was spot on as the tourists gave up very in the chase and weren’t it for Marlon Samuels’ second ton (112 off 106 balls, 9x4s,6x6s) in the series the margin of defeat could have been much bigger.

“Unlucky for us Virat got his form back against us. But we wish him the best. Can’t fault the effort of our boys,” Dwayne Bravo said.

Samuels didn’t seem to be affected by the situation around him and delayed the inevitable for a considerable period.

Andre Russell chanced his arm towards the end hitting six fours and three sixes during his 23-ball 46 but that was that. Among Indian bowlers, Akshar Patel, who replaced Amit Mishra for this match, impressed a lot returning 2 for 26.

Bhuvneshar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami and Ravindra Jadeja also took two wickets apiece. After being put in to bat on a wicket partial to batsmen, openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rahane hit the ground running. Dhawan, in particular, looked in good touch putting on display plenty of pulls and cuts. However, attempting one pull too many, he found Darren Bravo at deep midwicket off a slightly quicker delivery from Russell for a run-a-ball 35.

Kohli started from where he had left off at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, dropping anchor in the middle straight away. The run-scoring responsibility fell to Rahane who did a good job of it. However, he was lucky to have been dropped by Jerome Taylor at fine-leg when he was on 34.

He went on to make 34 more - his seventh fifty - and his participation in the 70 and 72-run stands with Dhawan and Kohli set the tone for a big score. His lbw dismissal by Sulieman Benn wasn’t the right decision as the ball pitched outside off and was missing the stumps as shown by replays. New batsman Raina also started from where he had left off in Delhi, showing good touch from the word go. His 31st fifty came in the blink of an eye off 46 balls and not once he looked in discomfort. Kohli took 65 balls to complete his fifty but after that he upped the ante. Kohli and Raina had added 138 when, against the run of play, the latter edged one wide delivery from Taylor to Denesh Ramdin behind the wickets. Raina hit three fours and five sixes during his innings of 71 off 58 balls.

Kohli’s 20th ton came in a dramatic fashion - by means of an overthrow. MS Dhoni (6) and Jadeja (2) departed in quick succession but Kohli (127 off 114 balls, 13x4s, 3x6s) ensured there was a formidable total on the board. His last 77 runs came off 49 balls while India scored 94 in the last 10 overs. He was run out off the last ball of the innings. Ambati Rayudu hit a big six in the last over bowled by Taylor and remained unbeaten on 12.