Virat Kohli leaves the field after India's win over West Indies
Leading from the front, Virat Kohli clinched the Man Of The Series award in the backdrop of India's comprehensive nine-wicket win in the fifth ODI against West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. India won the five-match ODI series 3-1 to register their sixth successive ODI series triumph at home and eighth consecutive against the Windies. (Read Full Match Report)
Having remained not out for 33, Kohli drove India past the victory line along with vice-captain Rohit Sharma, who contributed with an impressive 63-run knock.
Kohli made 453 runs in five matches of the ODI series, scoring the consecutive centuries in the first three matches. The 29-year-old Delhi batsman became the first Indian to do so.
"To contribute as a captain is an added bonus. Won't happen everytime. Awards are by-products of what you do on the field," Kohli said in the post-match presentation, where he was bestowed with the MOTM award.
Despite having lost the toss, India bowled West Indies out for 104 runs in just 31.5 overs. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took four wickets, while pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with two wickets each.
Chasing a small target of 105 runs, India lost Shikhar Dhawan (6) cheaply in the second over. However, with Kohli and Rohit in charge, the home team reached the paltry target in just 14.5 overs.
In terms of biggest victories, Thiruvananthapuram ODI win turned out to be India's second best as they reached the target with 211 balls to spare. India's biggest triumph remains to be an ODI win against Kenya in 2001 at Bloemfontein, where they won the match with 231 balls to spare.
Having lost the two-Test series 2-0 earlier, West Indies let themselves down after competing hard in the ODI challenge. After losing the first ODI in Guwahati, they fought back to pull off a thrilling tie in the second ODI at Visakhapatnam. They came stronger in the third ODI as they defeated India by 43 runs in Pune.
The fourth game at Mumbai was dominated by the hosts, following which they romped to a series win in Thiruvananthapuram.
India last lost a series at home in 2015. It was South Africa who edged past India 2-3 in the five-match ODI rubber.
