NEW DELHI: India's newest ODI double centurion Ishan Kishan guided India to a comprehensive 227-run win in the dead rubber against Bangladesh on Saturday. With the victory, India denied the hosts a clean sweep and salvaged some pride after losing the first two one-dayers and the series 2-1.
The impressive win in the third ODI also came at a crucial time as it will give team a lot of confidence going into the two-Test series starting December 14.
Ishan, who replaced skipper Rohit Sharma in the final match, hogged the limelight as he smacked a record-breaking 126-ball double hundred to help India amass 409 for 8.
Stand-in skipper KL Rahul lauded Ishan for his heroic performance, emphasising on that fact that the 24-year-old grabbed his opportunity with both hands while setting up a clinical victory.
"This was expected from our team. Virat (Kohli) and Ishan set it up for us. The scores don't suggest that the way he started off. Ishan grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He batted brilliantly," Rahul said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Rahul also praised senior pro Kohli for guiding Kishan during their 290-run second wicket stand.
"Virat also used his experience and guided him," Rahul said.
However Rahul feels that this win will give them team requisite confidence.
"Very happy with our performance. We are learning as a team. Still trying to get better. Unfortunate, the results didn't go our way in the first two games. (But) we would want to take the confidence into the Test series," said Rahul, who is set to lead India in the Test series due to Rohit's injury.
Sent into bat, India looked a completely different batting unit on Wednesday, with young Ishan Kishan (210 off 131) displaying his insane power-hitting skills to register a record-breaking fastest double hundred, guiding India to a crushing 227-run consolation victory over Bangladesh.
Besides Kishan, Virat Kohli was also at his elegant best as he smashed 113 off 91 deliveries to propel India to a mammoth 409 for eight.
The Indian bowlers also rose to the occasion on the day to bundle out Bangladesh for 182 in 34 overs.
Shardul Thakur (3/30) picked up three wickets, while Axar Patel (2/22) and Umran Malik (2/43) scalped two wickets apiece.
Rival skipper Litton Das lauded Kishan for his fearless approach, saying the diminutive left-hander and Kohli simply took the game away from his side with their attacking batting.
"The way Ishan and Virat batted, that cost us the game. The way Ishan batted, hats off to him. Our bowlers tried our best but there was no way out on this wicket.
"Had we been chasing 330-340, it would have been a different ball game. They are a good side. We played good cricket and will help our confidence," Das said.
Player of the series, Mehidy Hasan Miraz said the series win will bost Bangladesh's confidence ahead of next year's ODI World Cup in India.
"They (India) are a good side in every format. Last couple of years we have been doing well. We have a World Cup in front and we can do well next year. We have lot of senior guys. They are supporting us. We gained confidence," he said.
(With PTI Inputs)
